Cricket, community and a lifetime of service for Clinton Carey

For Clint, volunteering has always been about creating opportunities and making people feel welcome. That ethos has guided him since his teenage years and continues to shape Casino Cricket Club today. 

His involvement began early, coaching his first team at just 17, and his connection to the game has only deepened since.  

“My dad and brother played [cricket], my uncle was an umpire, and we were always playing backyard cricket on the farm,” he said. “I was the younger brother, so I always had to bowl.” 

Those early days shaped a lifelong love of the game. Since 1990, Clint has given his time across almost every part of Casino Cricket. He has coached, played, scored and managed teams, while also serving as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Member. He was one of Casino Cricket Club’s founding committee members, helping set the foundations for what the club would become. 

Growing up on a family farm in Casino, cricket became Clint’s identity and window to the world. Through representative cricket, Clint travelled beyond his hometown, met people from other communities and encountered opportunities he otherwise would not have had. As he puts it, the game “opened doors for me.” 

He wanted to be able to create these same opportunities for those around him, with a significant part of Clint’s legacy centring around making cricket more accessible. Under his guidance, Casino Cricket Club established a Cricket Blast program in partnership with the Cricket NSW Foundation that provides free access for Indigenous children, helping families feel welcomed and supported from the very beginning of their cricket experience.  

That commitment extended further through the delivery of a Youth Indigenous Cricket Blast gala day, which brought together up to 200 students from local schools. The first event of its kind on the North Coast, it created an entry point for young people to try the game. 

For more than two decades, Clint has also represented Casino Cricket, strengthening relationships with community and families and encouraging new players to get involved. That long‑term focus has delivered measurable growth, including a 44 per cent increase in junior participation between S24/25 and S25/26. 

The belief driving that growth is straightforward. “If you don’t embrace inclusion, you’re missing out on great people and great moments,” Clint said. “The game feels shallow without it”.  

Living this sentiment, Clint has been equally committed to growing opportunities for women and girls. What began seven years ago has evolved into the strongest female participation profile of any club on the Far North Coast, with women now making up 30 per cent of Casino Cricket Club’s membership. For the club, Clint sees female inclusion as a standard that reflects a message about the wider community values. 

“Once we cleared the path and made sure the committee space was inclusive to females, the pathways into junior and senior cricket started to happen naturally,” he said. “Making sure that committee space was inclusive. That is vital.” 

Casino Cricket Club reflects this impact simply:  

“Clint has driven our Women in Cricket programs with genuine belief and enthusiasm, helped shape the future of junior cricket, and championed every inclusion initiative with the kind of commitment that inspires others to jump in beside him.”   

Beyond this, cricket has given Clint something equally enduring - connection. Through decades of involvement, he has built a strong social network and lifelong friendships, while fostering the welcoming, family‑friendly culture the Club is known for. That sense of belonging continues to fuel his volunteer work, stating; “Being part of something and seeing it grow is incredibly rewarding.” 

Looking ahead, Clint hopes cricket in Casino continues to grow in ways that bring people together and reinforce the Club’s values. “I want it to stay progressive and inclusive,” he said. “I want cricket to be about people having a go, enjoying their time, and feeling part of something. If we keep that focus, the future is strong.”