But last year, and again this year, he has attended one day international matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Neville is a resident of the Adventist Senior Living retirement village, Avondale Lifestyle Community, in Cooranbong.

He also has a government-funded Adventist Senior Living Home Care package that affords him a little extra support with his daily care and living.

His carer is Mitchell Knight who recently arranged to drive Mr Tosen to the Australia versus England match at the SCG on January 21.

“It was a great day, except that Australia lost,” Mr Tosen said. “Australia did better last year and won against Pakistan.

“I normally get around the village on my walker and it wouldn’t be possible for me to enjoy a ‘live’ game on my own. But thanks to Mitchell I had a great day.

“And I noticed that he enjoyed the cricket, too.”

Mr Tosen started playing cricket in his homeland, South Africa, at age 7.

The doctor had told him to play cricket with a tennis ball to relieve his asthma. A spade handle was the wicket in the backyard of their home.

“I got pretty good at getting people out,” he said, “even though there was not the usual three wickets. Cricket is in my blood,” he said, with obvious enthusiasm for the game.

“As a boy I had a beautiful Doberman that used to retrieve the ball. I hope to meet Rags in Heaven and maybe we can have another game of cricket,” he said with a chuckle.

“Meantime, I would like to see the Proteas (South Africa’s cricket team) beat the Aussies when they play soon. I hope my carer will take me to that game.”

TEN elderly retirees from Lake Macquarie’s Jewells Lifestyle Community recently joined a class of year 8 food technology students at Avondale School, Cooranbong, pairing up to share and prepare treasured family recipes.

Each retiree shared not only a recipe, and cooked it alongside the students, but also a heartfelt conversation about the stories and love associated with that food item which really brought the recipes to life for the students.