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...
Yesterday we had the incredible privilege and honour to be invited to Admiralty House to meet with His Excellency The Governor General of Australia.
We talked all things Willo, inclusion, connection, cricket, art, community and what matters in our desire to live authentic and purposeful lives.
The Governor General was kind, humble and generous with his time. As were all of his staff.
Thanks to the Australian Men's Shed Association in particular John Kennis for sanding the bat for the Governor General to paint. Simon Bouda for being with us and coming on as our new Patron for The Last Over. Our Board of Directors and especially Will.
Will inspired the room yet again with keeping things real. This video was by far the moment of the day when we all walked out to the front lawn of this amazing building and The Governor General witnessed first hand this fast bowler.
This game unites us no matter our ability. Will inspires us to connect and include.
#inclusion #thelastover #iknowwill #australiabatsforwill #bethechange #bunburybatsforwill
A joint venture with the Robertson Men’s Shed, Willo and a surprise artist!!!
Thank you John Kennis ... your a legend!
@australianmensshedassociation
**SOLD**
Our bat by Ben Quilty is up for bids and is currently at $2,000 with 3 days to go.
We are taking offers for this stunning original painting of Will
Funds raised will go towards our Willo inspired community project.
Thx @em_milliss for the latest offer 😘
#charity #benquilty #quilty #artistsoninstagram #investment #artcollectors #iknowwill #australiabatsforwill #bunburybatsforwill #gallery #painting @ange_moments @simonbouda #artwork #artgallery #artlover #artcollector #artforsale #artsy
The Last Over with Will and two new players Nick and Matt.
Our team @robertsonburrawangcc 3rds you lead the way .. and @bowralcricketclub thanks for an absolutely great day of cricket, family and community 💚
#thelastover #iknowwill #inclusion #community #team #connectingforinclusion #team #care #connect
When the @acurrentaffair9 story with @simonbouda went to air in December we had the most amazing response from clubs throughout Australia expressing with us how brilliant the initiative was and how they would like to offer it through their teams.
They realised how The Last Over could be their way to offer an inclusive pathway that meant regular participation and offered the club a way to truly get to know players with different abilities.
Our first formal sign up is the Howlong Cricket Club The home of our great friend Riley who came to visit us at The Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame with is mum and dad, Kylie and Bryan.
The club is launching The Last Over in a couple of weeks and already are receiving calls and messages from families in their town who want to participate.
Daz, here in the picture, is the first to sign up and Marty presented his shirt to him.
If every club in Australia... that's around 3,778 signed up a Will or a Daz .. there would be close to 4,000 new players with disabilites playing cricket regularly. That's just 1 per club.
The best thing about The Last Over is that it creates regular participation. It's not another special day, special program and in isolation to the community or club. Its inclusive.
As we have experienced in our club at Robertson, it gives an opportunity to develop a relationship with a person who may not have been known or understood. And it comes as no surprise we are the ones who benefit from a relationship with Will, Daz and Riley.
They have essential qualities that seamlessly connect with others. Those qualities are kindness, love, a lack of ego, wholeheartedness, resilience and persistence. There is truth in their behaviour and a genuine spirit. They are gentle and authentic. They come from the heart.
This behaviour will inspire and influence real connections with so many people through the game we love .... cricket.
.
#thelastover #iknowwill #australiabatsforwill #cricket #inclusion #community #bethechange #care #kindness #autism @robertsonburrawangcc
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
