Right: Bunyip’s Aaron Smith will be the ball boy for the women’s gold medal hockey match at the Commonwealth Games.
By Glen Atwell
BUNYIP’S Aaron Smith is closer to the Commonwealth Games’ hockey action than any of us could dream to be.
The volunteer ball boy is responsible for making sure a hockey ball is always ready to restart play when the active ball is blasted out of bounds at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville.
The 15yearold was selected to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best hockey players after two weeks of training in the leadup to the event.
“We practiced handling the ball and learning to properly throw it back onto the field,” he said.
Aaron has already taken part in five hockey matches, including one involving the Kookaburras.
“It was great to ball boy for Australia, they were a great team and should win gold,” he said.
The apprentice mechanic, who will ball boy the women’s goldmedal match, also had some predictions for the Hockeyroos.
“The women’s team should also win for Australia, I think England will take the silver,” he said.
Aaron used to play field hockey for Dandenong, but has since turned his attention to football.
For his two weeks of voluntary effort, Aaron netted an entire outfit including two pairs of shorts and pants and two shirts.
Picture: Stewart Chambers.
