Glenn McGrath did the wrong thing - but cancer survivors aren't the right target.

Withdrawing donations to the McGrath Foundation won’t end hunting – it will only hurt vulnerable women who desperately need your support

Yesterday, Australian cricketing legend Glenn McGrath was outed as a hunter of animals in Africa and Australia.

There is no doubt – the photos are distressing and cast McGrath in an unflattering light.

Chipitani Safaris – Experience Zimbabwe like never before … (Photos since removed from site + cache) #GlennMcGrath pic.twitter.com/5EEeQt1tbV

— Lyndsay Farlow (@LyndsayFarlow) February 21, 2015

I feel sick to my stomach – Cricketer Glenn @glennmcgrath11 thinks he’s a hero slaughtering animals for fun & TUSKS! pic.twitter.com/h7KF1K7xTi — Angela ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ (@sallie6youtube) February 21, 2015

Attention was drawn to the fact that McGrath is a long-standing supporter of hunting, talking about his passion in an interview with Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Magazine.

Glenn McGrath a hunter? Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise… https://t.co/foMCGZ6zrQ pic.twitter.com/E1CNZb7ZaE

— Lyndsay Farlow (@LyndsayFarlow) February 21, 2015

As the images gained traction on the internet, McGrath responded to the story, noting that the images were taken during a period of grief over the loss of his first wife, Jane McGrath.

Please see my response below pic.twitter.com/GnnrSoPxzY

— Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11) February 21, 2015

Grief does terrible things to people. And judging someone for the actions they take during the lowest points in their lives is deeply fraught. Despite this, it does seem that hunting has been a long standing passion for the cricketer.

Not long after the story broke, people were pointing out the hypocrisy of some of McGrath’s associations.

How can an elephant murderer like @glennmcgrath11 be a @PlanetArk ambassador? More like Planet Death Ark. pic.twitter.com/K0QAhSfOkF

— ShuffsTheElephant (@_Shuffs_) February 21, 2015

Just 2 days ago, the McGrath Foundation distanced itself from #GreyhoundRacing after cruelty revealed. #HowIronic… http://t.co/FNEQaX4mxn

— Kiera (@KieraGorden) February 21, 2015

But far more concerning is the fact that people began to suggest that the community should stop donating to the McGrath Foundation, a charity that raises funds for breast care nurses to support women living with breast cancer.

@MarkDiStef @glennmcgrath11 I deeply regret donating money to the McGrath foundation in light of his actions. Won’t happen again.

— Josh (@joshuacullen2) February 21, 2015

Glen McGrath,cricket star, head McGrath Foundation SHOT Elephant. Hunting innocents. No more support for Foundation! pic.twitter.com/VJ8ONFQqoP

— Bryony (@madamglobal) February 21, 2015

@McGrathFdn Do not delete posts on your Facebook. Photo of @glennmcgrath11 with dead elephant should be addressed not swept away.

— Esther Clerehan (@clerehan) February 21, 2015

Why shouldn’t people who donated time and money to #mcgrathfoundation not be pissed off about #glennmcgrath killing elephants for fun? Foul.

— News Australia (@NewsAustralia) February 21, 2015

.@McGrathFdn Why would you kill an elephant Glenn McGrath? Absolutely despicable. http://t.co/jB8t9ipbUV

— Greens NSW (@GreensNSW) February 21, 2015

Whatever your view on the hunting photos, the McGrath Foundation is the wrong target for this campaign.

While we would normally say: “Play the ball, not the man”, in this case, we need to be playing the man and not the ball.

McGrath made an unfortunately decision. It was in bad taste. It was gross.

But his behaviour in this matter has nothing to do with the work done by the Foundation that he started with his wife Jane after her early treatments for breast cancer (which ultimately took her life).

In the past six years, over 33,000 families have been supported by 102 McGrath Breast Care Nurses. It is a service that unabashedly focusses on the needs of women at a devastating time. It is not about the medical treatment of cancer sufferers. It is about women’s comfort and their wellbeing – something that clinical treatment often overlooks.

But the work done by the organisation is not limited by the direct services it provides. The organisation has been integral to raising the profile of breast cancer across communities that might not otherwise engaged with the issue, especially through its association with Australian cricket.

No doubt, who Glenn McGrath is in his public and private life is intimately associated with the McGrath Foundation – he is the Foundation’s president and co-founder.

But the defining feature of the relationship between Glenn McGrath and the McGrath Foundation is the deep and abiding love that he shared with his first wife, Jane and his commitment to supporting other women in her memory. And that is unchanged by the revelations contained in these hunting images.

Withdrawing donations to the McGrath Foundation won’t end hunting – it will only hurt vulnerable women who desperately need your support.

There’s a good chance that the McGrath Foundation will take a financial hit as the result of this scandal. If you would like to make a donation to the Foundation to offset that, you can do that here.