Sport
27 March, 2026
Region’s last remaining traditional tuft in danger
THE LAST remaining turf wicket in Upper Loddon is almost certain to be torn up.
Wedderburn Band’s committee is still discussing whether to replace it with a synthetic wicket at Market Square but club president Ian Gould said it was an 80-20 likelihood, with a final decision expected in the next few weeks.
“We have to work out if it’s the right decision for the club,” he said.
Preparation of the wicket during the cricket season was an onerous task being carried out by volunteers, who were increasingly difficult to find, Gould said.
Appeals to Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia for funding for new wickets were unsuccessful.
The Band requested finance for three new turf wickets that would be substantially easier to prepare than the current one-and-a-half wicket square.
“It was disappointing, but we also know that Cricket Australia has lost a lot of its income in the last season, with the two-day Ashes tests,” Gould said.
“Everyone is under pressure for funding, but that’s pushed us into the situation we are in now.” The club was given funding two years ago for new practice facilities at the ground.
Ross Hannah has been curator of the pitch in recent seasons, with help from Bob Steel.
Gould said they had done a wonderful job as volunteers, but the club needed more assistance.
“It’s very time-consuming, and we just don’t know if someone is prepared to do the job – and we think probably not.”
Gould said most volunteers gave their time to multiple sports, and their work was spread thinly.
He acknowledged that turf wickets were precious, and rare in country Victoria, but without more volunteers to maintain the pitch and the wider ground the club’s hands were tied. Gould said he was privileged to have played when turf wickets were commonplace, and he understood peoples’ attachment to them as a romantic part of cricket.
Junior cricket finals were played at Wedderburn in the season just finished, giving young players perhaps their final chance to have a hit out on turf.
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