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Moreton Bay Bats, winners of the Moreton Bay Shield 2021

Above is a group photo of participants who played in the Mayor’s XI match held in September 2021. Mayor’s players are in white, the BATS players are in Maroon and Umpires in Blue.
Above is a group photo of participants who played in the Mayor’s XI match held in September 2021. Mayor’s players are in white, the BATS players are in Maroon and Umpires in Blue.

Welcome to the Blind Bats Inc Website. Our website is designed to provide you with information about Blind Bats Inc and our inclusive activities. Feel free to go through each of the website pages and as you read each page, ask yourself if you would like to help us progress our aims and objectives.

The 2021 launch of our Beeping Cricket Ball proved to be an incredibly special occasion for Blind Bats Inc. and the Moreton Bay Community. Representatives from all three levels of Government, our local University USC, and various leaders from within the local community came together to showcase community-inclusive activities.

In 2022 we have progressed our prototype Beeping Ball to the final stage and along with Beep Cricket, introduced 3 new sports, Football, Softball and, Touch Football.

Also in 2022, we formed BATS Sports Club, Moreton Bay, the Inclusive Sport and Activities sub-branch that manages our Inclusive Sport and Activities program. For those who reside in the Moreton Bay Region, free safe bus transport is available to those who need it.  To become a member, click here. Bats Sports Club sport and activities are community inclusive.

In 2023, we will be introducing the sport of Hockey. Also being introduced in 2023 will be Deep Sea Fishing, Ten Pin Bowling, and Social Events. Expansion to other locations is now in progress.

Blind-Bats-Inc.-blind charity association north brisbane

NEXT EVENT

Beep Sports Day

Sunday 11 June 2023

10 am – 2 pm

IS IT ON?    YES

2023 Creative Industries Demo Day!

Photo taken after the announcement that Blind Bats Inc. is the Winner of the Moreton Bay Creative Inovation Award for 2023. Left to right is Tim, Julia, Paul and Alaura.
Pictured above Paul Szep (centre right), Alaura his support worker (far right), and Tim the Blind Bats’ secretary (far left) stand alongside Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, @Julia Spicer (centre left), shortly after having been announced as the winner.

Congratulations to Blind Bats, the unanimous Judges’ Choice winner at the 2023 Creative Industries Demo Day!

🚀 Introducing the game-changer: Blind Bats’ Beeping Ball!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Blind Bats’ President, Paul Szep, and his Beeping Ball as the unanimous Judges’ Choice winner at the 2023 Creative Industries Demo Day. read more

Mayor's XI v BATS

A photo of the players in the Mayor's XI match. BATs players are in maroon uniforms and the Mayor's players are in white uniforms. The Umpires are wearing blue shirts and black trouwsers.
A photo from the Mayor's XI match. BATS players are in maroon uniforms and the Mayor's players are in white uniforms. The umpires are wearing blue shirts.

This inaugural event proved to be a big winner with both the Moreton Bay community and visitors from other regions of Queensland, giving it the thumbs up. Because of this, an annual shield was produced. However, mainly due to delays caused by the Covid-19 shutdowns and local flooding of our facilities and grounds, the return match has been rescheduled for a day in the second quarter of 2023.  We very much look forward to this event. read more

 

Under-arm Bowling

JJackson prepares to deliver the white beeping ball down the pitch.
Jackson prepares to deliver the white beeping ball down the pitch.

Inclusive Sport on a Sunday

Charlie's new sunglasses truly make the difference. He dispatched the beeping cricket ball to the boundary rope on multiple occasions.
Charlie's new sunglasses truly make the difference. He dispatched the beeping cricket ball to the boundary rope on multiple occasions.

Beep Cricket Under Lights

Beep Cricket at night for the first time. In the photo from left to right are Bill Hensen (umpire), Karen Carpenter (bowler), and Paul Szep (observer). Karren, a member of the Dragons team is ready to bowl the white beeping cricket ball.
Beep Cricket at night for the first time. In the photo from left to right are Bill Hensen (umpire), Karen Carpenter (bowler), and Paul Szep (observer). Karren, a member of the Dragons team is ready to bowl the white beeping cricket ball.
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Listen to our radio 101.5fm ad!

BATS Sports Club’s Inclusive Beep Sports Program is conducted each Sunday. To confirm if this activity is on, check out the notice on the top right column of this page. These Beep Sports Sessions will be held each weekend on a Saturday Night or Sunday. To view our Event Calendar click here

 

Podcast with Ian Healy

A photo of Ian Healy, Paul Szep and Tony Clark in the podcast on Beep Cricket
Ian Healy, Paul Szep and Tony Clark in this Podcast speaking about Beep Cricket
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Listen to our Podcast with Ian Healey

At Blind Bats Inc, our aim is to provide our members with the opportunity to participate in activities designed to experience a more active and inclusive lifestyle.

We are working closely with local community groups, sporting clubs/associations to develop programs that help deliver our aim. Please feel free to let others in your community know about us and our services. Blind Bats Inc. is a family-friendly charity.

NDIS NEWS: Beeping Cricket Ball

The technology used in our Beep Cricket Ball will be used in a number of ball sports included in the BATS Sports Club's Inclusive Sports Program. At Bats Sports Club, the incoming batter gets to choose the colour of the beeping cricket ball (black or white).
The technology used in our Beep Cricket Ball will be used in a number of ball sports included in the BATS Sports Club's Inclusive Sports Program. At Bats Sports Club, the incoming batter gets to choose the colour of the beeping cricket ball (black or white).

NDIS Media Release

26 September, 2022

Paul makes perfect pitch for beep cricket

Meet Paul Szep, the Kerry Packer of blind cricket, who is set to change the way the game is played since its creation 100 years ago. read more

ABC DIGITAL NEWS

Beeping cricket ball inventor and Blind Bats founder Paul Szep celebrates progress in modified game, read more

 

ABC RADIO

Listen to the ABC Radio Interview – Beeping Ball

When Paul was six months old, his family was told he was legally blind as a result of contracting a disease called Pink’s disease in the hospital.

“It was a rare disease that was brought over from England, and there was only a few people in the hospital that contracted it, but they all ended up with eyesight like mine,” Szep told 7NEWS.com.au. Read more

Vision Australia Radio

Listen to the Vision Australia Radio podcast with Sam Corley and Paul Szep, President of Blind Bats Inc.

To listen click here 

A Blast From The Past

Above is a photo of Kenin Magee (World Champion GP Racer) with Ben Felton (Blind Motorcycle Speed World Record Holder). Both riders standing next to their motor bikes on the white salt flat test track.
Above is a photo of Kenin Magee (World Champion GP Racer) with Ben Felton (Blind Motorcycle Speed World Record Holder).

Ben Felten is the world’s fastest blind man on a motorcycle!

I recently caught up with a dear friend of mine who is one of the most driven and talented blind people I have ever met. We go back to the late 80s and early 90s at Nepean Blind Sports Club where a group of people from the local community, unknowingly established the first inclusive sports club for the blind in Australia.

Ben Felten, Michael Linke, and I, were leaders who formed one of the most successful Blind Sports Clubs in NSW, winning the NSW Blind Cricket Competition at our first attempt. We all have moved on to bigger and better things now however, in my heart, Ben will always be a shining light for young legally blind people. He is living proof that if you have the will and are prepared to do the work, you can achieve your dreams no matter how much sight you have.

Paul Szép

President, Blind Bats Inc.

Read more

 

2022 Beep Cricket Presentation Night

From left to right, Photo of Paul Szep, Ian Healy Adam Haine at the 2022 Beep Cricket Presentatoin Night
From left to right, Photo of Paul Szep, Ian Healy Adam Haine at the 2022 Beep Cricket Presentatoin Night