Sydney Blue Sox pitch in to support centenary of Anzac

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Victor Dominello today announced the Sydney Blue Sox baseball team had become the 100th sporting club to join the Centenary of Anzac initiative, United We Stand, honouring the legacy of our diggers.

The NSW Government initiative encourages sporting clubs in NSW to uncover stories of local diggers, and incorporate commemorative activities into their games as the world commemorates 100 years since the First World War.

Mr Baird said the Sydney Blue Sox would dedicate the team’s closest match to Remembrance Day in honour of the 62,000 Australian troops who died during the war.

“The Blue Sox is an international team made up of players and coaching staff from around the world, including Australia, the US, South Korea and Germany,” Mr Baird said.

“The First World War had devastating consequences worldwide and the team is committed to remembering Australian diggers, as well as those who served in other armed forces.

“I commend the Blue Sox for coming on board to honour the legacy of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today, and play a part in uncovering our untold war stories.”

Mr Dominello said the NSW Government would provide a $3,800 grant that would allow Blue Sox players to wear special United We Stand camouflage uniforms during the Remembrance Day Match against Canberra Cavalry on Saturday 15 November.

“Sports clubs are great repositories through which we can capture the untold stories of thousands of men and women who have served our country at war,” he said.

Blue Sox Chief Executive Officer Mark Marino said the club was proud to become a United We Stand partner throughout the Centenary period, August 2014 to November 2018.

“Baseball has a long history of working in partnership with veterans’ groups. In the US, honouring our returned servicemen and women is integral to the fabric of most major and minor league clubs, which is something we would like to replicate here,” Mr Marino said.

Information about the NSW Government’s Centenary of Anzac initiatives can be found at: http://veterans.nsw.gov.au/centenary