Media Statements - Beryl Silvester, Senior of the Year to witness coin toss at Australia vs Pakistan test at the WACA

25/11/99

In acknowledgement of this year’s International Year of Older Persons, Western Australia’s Metropolitan Senior of the Year Beryl Silvester has been invited to carry the coin to the pitch at the WACA and witness the toss for the start of the Australia v Pakistan Test tomorrow.

Seniors’ Minister Rhonda Parker praised the Australian Cricket Board for recognising the contribution of seniors to our community in this way.

Mrs Silvester, who will be picked up from her Bentley home in a stretch limousine, will carry the special Don Bradman commemorative coin out on to the ground where she will witness the captain’s toss. After the toss she will have her photo taken with both captains and get to keep the coin.

The Minister said that at 76, Mrs Silvester was a wonderful example of the growing number of seniors who remained active and continued to contribute so much to our society after retirement.

“After a lifetime of involvement in theatre, she is still involved in a diverse range of interests,” Mrs Parker said.

“She recently stepped down as Director of the Young Australian League Drama Academy after 20 years of dedicated service training young actors and actresses, as well as encouraging young people with disabilities to experience the magic of theatre.

“Today she continues her interests in the arts as Director of the Maggie Box Theatre Group - a church theatre group raising money for charity, and the Swan Cottages Drama Group. She is also a principal of the University of the Third Age Play Readers’ Group, an active member of the Swan Cottages Writers’ Group, Perth Writers’ Group and Klujak Playwrights.”

Mrs Silvester also volunteers her services at Tranby Primary School to listen to the year one students read.

She said she was thrilled to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’m used to the arts and culture rather than sport but this week I’ve been studying the game so I’ll know I’ll enjoy it even more,” she said.

Mrs Silvester confessed there was a dark cricketing secret in her family - a cousin who played Sheffield Shield Cricket for South Australia about 30 years ago, Chris Trethewey, was accused of being a thrower when he bowled in a game in Western Australia.

Media contact: Owen Cole 9481 7810