Where There’s A Will
We are also known as Willo and we have a clear purpose. To inspire and influence inclusion for people who live with intellectual challenges …. through connection.
People with intellectual challenges constitute a group at very high risk of exclusion at a community level. They are often denied opportunities to fully participate in the activities of their communities because they are seen as not able: they are seen as disabled.
Willo inspires artists and community members to paint cricket bats that have been refurbished by people living with intellectual challenges. These communities are brought together through cricket and art, realised through cricket bat art exhibitions.
The exhibitions create an opportunity to connect which has the potential to change individual behaviours and perceptions of inclusion at all levels in the community.
100% of funds raised from the exhibitions create community owned, community driven and community managed services for “all abilities” in the community. A place for people to feel they truly belong and a place they feel they can connect, learn and be supported by and with their community.
Willo has lived just this experience for 24 years and we understand that belongingness; our connection to our friends and our community, is a fundamental human emotional need.
Willo believes we can inspire and influence inclusive behaviour towards those with intellectual challenges, through connection, one person at a time. If we can change the behaviour of individuals then we can change the behaviour of communities. Where There’s a Will … there is always a way.
A Current Affair
“The Last Over” 5th December 2021
Paive io
“People Inspiring People” October 2019
How to be a Willo Artist
Creating a piece of artwork on a cricket bat is open to anyone who would like to work with Willo. There are no rules or restrictions and the bat will be supplied by Willo ready to paint.
You don’t need to be an artist… you simply need to want to be involved and have an interest in making a difference.
You may know someone who would love to paint, either way let us know and we will send you a bat meticulously refurbished by our team throughout Australia.
Please contact us to register your interest.
How to be a Willo Community
Willo is now working across Australia to unite communities and raise more awareness around intellectual disabilities and inclusion.
The Willo Community is a collection of artists within a community who want to support the cause. Each artist is given a bat refurbished by Willo and his team. They have the option to paint or create some artwork and the bat is put into an Exhibition conducted in the community.
There is an organiser who we liaise with and they are the contact point to communicate and help organise the exhibition. If you would like to be a Willo Community please contact us.
How to send us your bats
We source the second hand bats from schools, cricket clubs, privately and through communities.
We have a drop off station at the International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral, and bats can also be picked up anywhere throughout Australia.
Any old bats will be welcomed and bats that have been left in sheds and unused or potentially to be thrown out will be recycled and given a beautiful new purpose and home.
If you would like to send us a bat directly please contact us.
The Last Over
Due to the overwhelming response from cricket clubs throughout Australia to the A Current Affair story in January 2021, Willo will be encouraging clubs to adopt The Last Over. The concept of the Last Over began in 2013 with Will playing cricket in a way that suited his abilities and opened the way to a lifelong love and participation of the game.
An additional over was added to the end of the game every Saturday in the cricket season and both teams and spectators came onto the field to play together with Will. He bowled or batted and participated in a way that suited his abilities which were accepted, understood and celebrated by the club and players. It opened the minds of the players about their perception of intellectual disability which inevitably, changed their behaviour towards Will.
The Last Over is an opportunity for every cricket club throughout Australia to include players who would not get to play consistently during the annual cricket season. It is a starting point for inclusion and importantly, for relationships to form. The Last Over offers a platform for connection and mateship.
With more than 3,778 cricket clubs across Australia, The Last Over would seamlessly offer a very simple and accessible pathway for inclusion and connection. If every club in Australia found just one Will Clarke in their community, there would be 3,778 more Australians living with intellectual disabilities participating and playing regularly and feeling connected, feel a sense of belonging and ultimately find a place of authentic inclusion.
It would also offer approximately 450,000 players across Australia a way to build a relationship with all the Wills in their community.
WILLO MOMENTS
A Man of Influence
On the 18th January 2021 Will was listed in the 20 Most...
Inclusion
When our story went to air on the 5th December this year...
Simon Bouda and ACA
We have been sharing Wills Last Over at cricket on...
Robertson Community Garden
The Robertson Community Garden project was first tabled as...
The Australian Navy takes Willo to the Middle East
We met Commodore Chris Smallhorn and his wife Kerina from...
Willo goes to London House
Our amazing exhibition, Warooka Bats for Will, brought...
Be that person 💚
Willo Cricket Bats
Constantly surprised at the creativity and uniqueness of our artists.
What next??
Michelle Cowan .. we can’t wait to see what you do with a cricket bat!!
At 21 years of age, @mishcowan4 was the first female assistant coach in the West Australian Football League when she became the midfield coach with the West Perth Football Club.
In 2013, she was appointed the senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club's women's team during the women's exhibition series and in the same year she was named as the Football Woman of the Year. Michelle became the first female assistant coach in Melbourne's history and the second in AFL history when she became the player development and welfare coach.
She has currently taken on the leadership of the West Coast Eagles Operations and Player Wellbeing programs.
There is so much more to her credits and we are chuffed she is supporting Willo and inclusive communities in WA.
Thanks for supporting #bunburybatsforwill #australiabatsforwill
.
.
.
#iknowwill @westcoasteagles @aflwomens @afl @visitbunburygeographe @randyresin @womeninsportwa #womeninsport #community #art #cricket
The Willo Team and our incredibly inspiring afternoon with the @gg_australia
A moment in time.
@stephenjonesmp .. your a legend.
Our first federal politician in 2021 to create a bat for Australia Bats for Will.
We had a great opportunity to speak with Stephen recently about Willo, our community work and our new initiative, The Last Over.
Stephen is a great advocate and champion for his communities and we spoke about how our Charity connects to bring about community owned, run and managed services for all abilities. How we are encouraging cricket clubs throughout Australia to do The Last Over to include players with different abilities every weekend into the game.
He is taking Willo to Canberra, Parliament House to open the challenge to more Australian politicians to Bat for Will and we hope ... to share more of our great work in Canberra.
#aussiepolliesbatforwill get on board !! #bethechange
Thanks Stephen
#cricket #australiabatsforwill #bunburybatsforwill #iknowwill #justinlanger #parliamenthouse
Where There’s A Will Ltd
ABN 14 634 182 497
Registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
44 May Street
Robertson NSW 2578
P: +61 2 427 110 968
E: hello@wheretheresawill.org.au
