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DRYSDALE &
CLIFTON SPRINGS
December 2014
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Milk bar gutted
LUKE VOOGT
ANDREW Rhook and Margaret Bryden are doing their best to make light of an awful situation, after fire caused extensive damage to their Clifton Springs milk bar two weekends ago. “So you’ve come to look at our modern art,” joked Mr Rhook, pointing to the melted air-conditioner dangling in the store’s front window. Mrs Bryden is maintaining a positive attitude, and is looking forward to a “forced holiday” with family and not having to work over Christmas and New Year's eve. “At least we will be able to spend more time with the family,” she said. “Our pool is sparkling now, because Andrew has so much time to clean it.” The fire started near the freezer in the front corner of the store, according to Ocean Grove CFA station officer Adam Shearer, and was possibly started by a motor overheating or malfunctioning. Mr Shearer said the fire had probably been burning for a while, due to the time of day,
when it was reported by a neighbour at about 2.30am on Saturday, November 29. “Because it was in an enclosed building, it was very hot,” he said. “Enclosed structure fires can get to over 600 degree celcius.” Two trucks from Drysdale CFA arrived on the scene shortly after the fire was reported and were joined by trucks from Ocean Grove and Wallington. The firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly, but the intense heat had melted appliances, while the flames destroyed products and caused smoke damage in the building’s interior. “It wasn’t a very big fire but it was very intense,” said Mr Rhook. “It’s amazing how much damage such a small fire can do,” said Mrs Bryden. “The fire was in one corner but things in the other corner of the store have melted.” News of the fire has been slow to reach some parts of town, with regular patrons still turning up on the doorstep, only to find the store has been closed. Continued inside.
Andrew Rhook and Margaret Bryden survey the damage done to their business. The heat of the fire did serious damage to an air-conditioning unit (inset).
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Voice Drysdale & Clifton Springs News End of year for Lights, new surface and fencing a spud shed boon for local club
New courts unveiled TWO new tennis courts, including lighting, state-ofthe-art surfacing and fencing, were unveiled at Clifton Springs Tennis Club last Friday, which the club hopes will encourage even more players to join. Club secretary Peter Van Wyk said the lighting upgrade would allow for more night matches, while the new surfaces will help local players take their game to the next level. “Previously, we only had two courts for our night competition, and now we have four,” he
said. “The court surface is ‘Plexicushion’, which is identical to the surface they have at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open.” City of Greater Geelong Cheetham Ward Councillor Rod Macdonald said the works would support the growth of Clifton Springs. “The tennis club is a key part of the suburb, with many members of the club having lived in the area for a number of years,” he said. “Installing two new courts was essential
BELLARINE Media’s Michael Jackson was busy photographing the Springdale Community Centre last Wednesday, to put together a virtual tour which can be accessed via Google Maps. “We’re doing it as a bit of a community project,” said Mr Jackson. “It’s also a reference, to show people what we can do with the technology.” Mr Jackson chose to do the shoot on Wednesday morning for ease of moving, due to less people being in the centre at that time. The virtual tour involves combining the photos to give a panoramic view of the inside of a building, similar to street view on Google Maps. Mr Jackson explained
the potential benefits of virtual tours for businesses. “It’s a way of showcasing a business online,” he said. “It builds a rapport with potential customers and gives better search results.” The virtual tour should be uploaded to Google Maps by this week. “We’re just in the process of stitching it together now,” said Mr Jackson last week. “We thought it was a good way of showcasing the community centre and what they are offering down there.” For privacy his company blurs out any licence plates and faces in the photos.
in order to keep up with the demand for the competition and recreational use of the courts.” Cr MacDonald said he hoped investing in grassroots facilities like this would inject “new life” into local sports. “While the club does already have good membership numbers, the upgrade will hopefully attract more people to enjoy a hit on the courts,” he said. The project was jointly funded by Council, the Clifton Springs Tennis Club and Tennis Australia.
“The club has put a lot of effort into developing the feasibility study of this project and it has been strongly supported by local community,” said Cr Macdonald. “I would like to acknowledge the work of Clifton Springs Tennis Club President Graeme Reid for his considerable work that he has put into this project.” “It is also a great thing that the courts are ready just in time for the summer tennis season.”
Virtual tour on the go
ON Friday December 5 at 6pm the Potato Shed will present the 2015 Odyssey Film Screening. And on Saturday December 6, the ballet school will be staging its end of year concert ‘2014 Turnout’. Join in the celebration which recognises all the hard work of the Bellarine’s young dancing talent. To celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, there’s also the 12-12 Plays on December 12. This year, you can expect a real emotional rollercoaster from these inventive plays by local writers and performers. For more information, call 5251 1998.
Eclectics arts THE Eclectics art group is organising an arts exhibition next month. The Eclectics evolved, like a lot of good ideas do, over coffee. The founders decided this would make a very interesting and unusual exhibition and set about bringing it into reality. The exhibition is at SpringDale Neighbourhood House Community Centre from 1pm January 6 and 10am to 4pm every day until the 31st.
Bike ride fun each Saturday ERIC Vosloo and Luke Leathbridge are encouraging Drysdale residents to join them at the Pedal Shed each Saturday at 10am for their “Nothing Serious” bicycle ride. “It’s really just a social ride, it doesn’t matter how good you are,” said Mr Vosloo. “The idea is to get people out on their bikes.” Mr Vosloo said the name for the ride 'nothing serious' came from the most common response from his customers to the question “what sort of bike are you looking for?”.
Michael Jackson and Anne Brackley from Springdale.
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Give a gift for the disadvantaged AS Christmas approaches gym owner Andrea Keating is calling on Drysdale residents to show their sense of charity, by donating a present for the disadvantaged. Ms Keating has again set up the Christmas Giving Tree at Curves Drysdale, now in its sixth year, to collect presents for Drysdale Family Support. When the gift drive began there were 149 tags at the gym, to be attached to donated presents for men, women and children, and Ms Keating is thrilled with the support shown so far.
Liz Innis, Andrea Keating, Margaret Kuyper and Raelene Thomson. “About half the tags are one for each of her adult gone and they’ve only children.” been out since [a few While Ms Keating said days ago],” Ms Keating she was happy with the said. support so far, she said “One lady just new to she was hoping for an the area has taken six; even greater response.
“We need more of the community to come in and get a tag,” she said. Drysdale Family Support is busy collecting food and preparing hampers for those in need this Christmas, and foodbank coordinator Travis Hogendoorn said the giving tree would allow them to add gifts to each hamper. “We really appreciate Curves doing this, it makes a big difference for us,” he said. “It gives our clients a bit of Christmas.” In another show of Christmas good will, Ms Keating said the
staff at Curves had also decided to donate money to Cottage by the Sea, instead of holding a Kris Kringle. Cottage by the Sea provides programs for disadvantaged young people in a seaside environment and Ms Keating encouraged patrons and the public to donate to this fund as well. For those with a soft spot for animals, the gym is also collecting donations for Geelong Animal Welfare, such as pre-used towels, toys, food and blankets.
With Christmas fast approaching, reporter Luke Voogt took to the streets to ask 'what are you doing for Christmas?'
JOHN AUSTIN, 72, CLIFTON SPRINGS The missus hasn’t decided yet. I think we’ll go over to our son’s house in Ocean Grove.
KAYE PRICE, 68, ST LEONARDS I’m going to my daughter’s house in Eltham. We used to always do Christmas at my house but now she thinks it’s too much for me. So now she’s taken over duties.
PAUL CARRIGG, 57, OCEAN GROVE I’m working. I’m playing a solo guitar gig at the Geelong RSL. Someone’s got to do it!
SHERYL HOWES, 46, PORTARLINGTON We’re just having a dinner at home in Portarlington and we have family coming down from Melbourne.
Darrylyn all for helping 'little island angels' THIS year Darrylyn Taylor is collecting Christmas presents for the 127 children of Nacula Village in Fiji, who are her “little island angels”, in conjunction with Curves Drydale’s Giving Tree. Ms Taylor first travelled to Nacula Village in August 2012 during a holiday with a friend, and was concerned by the lack of textbooks in the poverty-stricken community. “They are very poor, it’s really sad,” she said. “I cried when I saw how they lived.” In October 2012, Ms Taylor and her group began to organise presents to be delivered by boat. Yet they had to cancel the delivery when Cyclone Evan hit Fiji on December 10 that year. “Because of Cyclone Evan it didn’t happen, so it was decided I would deliver the presents myself,” said Ms Taylor. “A very kind person donated the cost of travel.”
TENIELLE MALONEY, 30, WAURN PONDS We’re going down to Wye River. We have a family holiday house down there.
Drysdale Primary School students at Parliament House in Canberra.
Children from Nacula Village.
Since then Ms Taylor has made her yearly Christmas trip to the village, as well as a trip in May 2013, to deliver textbooks and stationaey. Family and friends have donated to her cause over the past few years, as well organisations such as the Melbourne Fijians. “It’s gotten to the point
now where I really can’t get away from it,” she said. “I just love them because they are so grateful for the tiniest thing you do for them.” Ms Taylor said she admires how the locals deal with daily life and deal with problems such as erosion and the clean up after the cyclone.
“It’s amazing how they deal with their struggles; they are so happy!” she said. “Their medical centre is three to four feet from dropping in the ocean.” Those who wish to support Ms Taylor can donate a present at Curves Drysdale or visit her “Little Island Angels” Facebook page.
Canberra field trip for local students LAST week Drysdale Primary School year six students returned from a field trip to Canberra. “The kids really like the camp,” said teacher and organiser Mitchell Sinnott.
“They did a big civic and citizenship unit before they left.” The group toured several sites in Canberra including Parliament House, where they met Federal Member for
Corio Richard Marles. “He spoke to them for a good 45 minutes,” said Mr Sinnott. “They asked some pretty tough questions,” commented Mr Marles on his Twitter account.
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Voice Drysdale & Clifton Springs News
Retirement for chaplain Bart LUKE VOOGT AFTER more than 20 years as a chaplain and 15 of them working at Christian College, Bart Kroon, 64, has finally decided to call it a day. Mr Kroon has worked for 11 years at the Drysdale Campus of Christian College, which teaches students from prep to year 9. “I’ve been right through with three groups of students now,” he said. “You get to know them very well.” The retiring chaplain plans to spend more time with his five children and 12 grandchildren, who he said have always been supportive of his work. He also plans to spend more time tending to his goats on his stud farm at Mt Duneed, where he and his wife sell milk and
make feta cheese. “I’ve always said I’ve got three loads of kids; school kids, grand kids
and goat kids,” he said. “It’s time for the grand kids and the goat kids.” Mr Kroon said he had
enjoyed working as a chaplain, particularly going on camps with the students, singing and playing games with them during assemblies and “rolling on the floor with the preppies”. “It’s been a challenge but I’ve had a lot of fun doing it,” he said. Mr Kroon said he thought he had made a big difference during his time at the school. “In essence it’s just being available to support the students, staff and families, when they are having issues at home,” he said. “I love making that connection between parents and kids and, as you can imagine, that’s hard when there are teenagers involved.” As well as working at Christian College, Mr Kroon has worked as a chaplain at Deakin University, Austin Hospital and the
Geelong Hospital. He immigrated to Australia from the Netherlands with his family in 1953 and worked in transport and shipping, before becoming a minister in the Christian Reform Church. Mr Kroon spent 10 years, from 1981 to 1991, as a Minister in a Reformed Church in New Zealand, which has had some side effects. “I became a staunch All Blacks supporter,” he said. Mr Kroon has been replaced by two new part-time chaplains, both of whom teach. “I’m going to miss all these students,” he said. The retiring chaplain said he was somewhat of a social media junkie, and he hopes to keep in touch with them via Facebook, as well as doing some chaplain supervision.
From Council – Rod Macdonald Update on Bellarine Rail Trail project The trail between Portarlington Road and Drysdale is now sealed. Sealing between Jetty Road and High Street Drysdale is in progress along with a signalised crossing at Jetty Road. Also, as part of the project the old timber chicanes have been removed and new bollards and bike rails installed. A picnic shelter has also been installed. The major features of the project include: - sealing the section of track between the Portarlington Road crossing and High Street, Drysdale (all up a distance of approximately 3.5km). installation of pedestrian crossing lights at Jetty Rd crossing - improved alignment and approaches at the High Street crossing. - installation of a rest shelter and table 800m west of Jetty Rd crossing - tree and shrub plantings by Friends of Bellarine Rail Trail To date all of the above works have been completed bar the
installation of the lights at the Jetty Rd crossing, which are awaiting delivery. NOTE: The safety upgrade of the crossing on High Street remains a priority and council will continue to request Vic Roads to complete this work. Clifton Springs Tennis Club The construction of two new tennis courts including lighting and fencing at Clifton Springs Tennis Club is now complete including the surfacing of its courts. Drysdale Tennis Club Former Minister for Sport, Damian Drum, on November 12 announced funding of $20,000 to upgrade the Drysdale Tennis Club. The club is in the process of choosing its preferred contractor. The funding will be used to provide lighting at the courts by installing 10 x 8 metre lighting poles. The lights will be installed early in the new year once the permit and approvals process is complete. Marcus Hill Hall Architects have been commissioned to prepare
a detailed design for a toilet upgrade for the community hall on the corner of Bellarine Highway and Banks Road. Griggs Creek, Curlewis & Clifton Springs Rehabilitation works are underway at the following sites: Lower Weir, Bluestone, Weir and Dam Spillway. Playground upgrades As part of council’s Play Strategy, families will love the playground upgrades happening around Drysdale and Clifton Springs. These upgrades include new swings, climbing equipment and rockers and are aimed at children aged between three to seven. The upgrades will commence this month and will be complete by April 2015. Playgrounds include: Drysdale Railway Station playground is currently under construction and will be completed prior to Christmas. Almerta Reserve playground has just been completed and will be open for use by weeks end.
Bulimah Reserve playground will be completed in the new year. Council community grants Community groups are invited for the 2014-15 Council Community Grants Program. The details for eligibility for a grant and an online application form are located on the council website - www. geelongaustralia.com.au. Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year to all.
Rod Macdonald Councillor for Cheetham Ward City of Greater Geelong email: Rmacdonald@ geelongcity.vic.gov.au phone: 0458-509 994
Fire destroys local business
Continued from front page. “It’s amazing that people still rock up,” said Mrs Bryden. Yet those who have heard of the fire are all too willing to offer their support. “We’ve had plenty of offers to help, people turning up at the store and calling us,” said Mrs Bryden. “Everyone has been fantastic, it’s a great community,” said Mr Rhook. The couple is keen to return to operating The
Springs Milk Bar. “We’ll definitely be coming back,” Mrs Bryden. However it’s early days and with insurance inspectors still assessing the damage, Mr Rhook is unsure of when the store will be able to reopen. “Hopefully we’ll be back within two months,” he said. “We’ve been here for 18 years, it’s too good to let go,” said Mr Rhook. “It’s been a great shop this one but there’s no reason it can’t be better when we re-open it.”
Santa Claus with Drysdale CFA's Mitch Jeffs and Jesse Tate.
Santa and CFA team up This year Santa Claus is again joining forces with the Drysdale CFA to bring Christmas cheer to children throughout Drysdale and Clifton Springs, making a special lolly delivery on Christmas eve. Drysdale CFA wishes to advise that it will only be stopping at the following addresses: Route 1 Corner Panpandi Dr and Carawatha Ave, corner Dundundra Dr and Waulu Ave, Park opposite Peta Mews on Delungra Ave, corner Wanawong
Crt and Dundundra Dr, corner Gumarooka Ave and Dandarriga Dr, corner Derribong Way and Thamballina Rd, Clifton Springs Shops (Centaurus Ave), corner Country Club Drv and Catalina Cres, corner Bayshore Ave and Country Club Ave, corner Elanora Way and Bayshore Ave, Jetty Road Shops (corner Jetty Rd and Pinnaroo Ave) and Clifton Springs Primary School. Route 2 Wathaurong Reserve (Collins Street), Drysdale
Police Station (Eversley St), corner Serene Tce and Waterhaven Blvd, corner Lennox Crt and Buccleugh St, corner Oakland Dr and De Burgh Rd, Drysdale Train Station (Station Street), corner Granville St and Duke St, corner Marsh Crt and Wyndham St, corner Wisely Ave and Centennial Blvd, Clifton Springs Preschool (Central Rd), corner Vron Place and Eastwood Cres and corner Condy St and Nash Ave.
what’s ON music/live events
month 2pm-5.30pm
• Potato Shed, Drysdale - December 12, 12x12 Plays - December 13, Spud Club
markets & fairs
open mic - December 14, BecFaireyDance concerts
food/wine
• Springdale Community Centre Hall - Making waves music/poetry arvo every third Sun of every
• Buy Bellarine Produce Barn - Tuckerberry Farm SaturdaySunday 9am-3pm • Jack Rabbit Vineyard - Guided wine tastings and lunch available seven days, with dinner Friday and Saturday Ph: 5251 2233 • Curlewis Winery
- Cellar Door is by appointment only. Ph: 5250 4567 • Leura Park Estate Sundays 12.30pm – 4.30pm Live music, sensational food and wines available Ph: 5253 3180 • Clifton Springs Golf Club - Friday night f raffle. - Courtesy bus operates on Friday and Saturday Nights from 5pm to 11pm. The vehicle covers the areas of the Bellarine
Peninsula including Clifton Springs / Drysdale, Leopold, Ocean Grove and Portarlington. To book ring 5251 3391
get active
• Drysdale health Group 27-29 High Street - Strength training for over 50s program. Wednesday 5pm or 6.15. Ph: 5251 2958 • Drysdale Community Health Centre 21 Palmeston Street
- Weight resistance training. Ph: 5251 2291 • 'Nothing Serious' bike ride, Saturday 10am from the Pedal Shed
reading & writing
• Drysdale Library 18-20 Hancock Street -Tuesday and Thursday 10.30am Preschool Story Time -Wednesday 11.30am Baby Time- Nursery Verses
family fun
• The Bellarine Railway - Steam and diesel train trips departing from Queenscliff and Drysdale Stations.
What’s On phone: 5255 3233 or email: journo@ ocean grovevoice.com
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Voice Drysdale & Clifton Springs Sport College sports growing fast
Mihala Bond and Forester Sadler receive the House Cup with Cuthbert Crocodile.
SAINT Ignatius College sport is growing and was proud to field 73 sports teams in 22 different sports in 2014. Students were coached by knowledgeable, enthusiastic and caring trainers comprising staff, parents and experienced outside coaches whose skills and efforts are highly valued and builds into the fabric of Saint Ignatius’ culture, values
of respect, teamwork, individual aspiration, and competence, conscience and compassion. Director of Sport, Andrew Philp, believes that sport is full of life lessons and that, “Sport can teach failure, joy, disappointment, winning, losing, excitement, maturity, organisation, team work, humility and selflessness.” House sport at Saint
Ignatius includes the three major carnivals during the year. The swimming sports was won by Cuthbert house. Elliot House was clear winner at the athletics carnival and the new house mascots were introduced to everyone’s enjoyment: Cuthbert Crocodile, Elliot Tiger, Bradman Bull and Fraser Shark.
Juniors pay tribute to fallen star
Drysdale and Leopold under 15s and their coaches pay their respects to fallen star Phillip Hughes.
DRYSDALE junior cricketers were joined by Leopold cricketers to observe a minute’s silence on November 29 after the passing of Australian test cricketer Phillip Hughes. The under 15 cricketers wore black armbands to pay their respects to Hughes. Hughes died after he was knocked unconscious by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, causing a vertebral artery dissection that led to a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
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Voice Drysdale & Clifton Springs Sport
Loyalty the key Gold for Liam GUN Drysdale allrounder Brett Harding believes the chance to play in an A grade premiership was a major lure for him staying at the Hawks this season. The 32-year-old is considered one of the elite BPCA cricketers with his scores of 107 not out against Jan Juc in round one and 169 against Barwon Heads in round four this season. The former Lethbridge cricketer was the leading Drysdale A grade player last season with 316 runs at 35.11 and he took 27 wickets at 15.22. During the offseason Harding, who took up residence in Bannockburn, contemplated shifting his cricketing exploits west at the Geelong Cricket Association Division Three Club. But a strong friendship with Drysdale Cricket
Brett Harding Club coach Shane Cutajar and an opportunity to break the club’s elusive A grade premiership
drought helped changed that. “It is just more the travel sort of thing, I have been
living in Bannockburn and it is 40 to 45 minutes to get down to Drysdale,” Harding told the Voice. “So I was going to play at Bannockburn and I know my brother in-law is playing there as well. “I didn’t feel comfortable one night I went to training at Bannockburn during the pre-season and it just didn’t feel right. “I just wanted to go back to Drysdale and go one step further than what we did last season, we were a good side last year and I felt I owed them (Drysdale) another year.” Drysdale, which went through the 2014/15 season undefeated, was eliminated by Queenscliff in last season’s semi-final. Brett is also brother of former AFL footballer Leigh Harding, who played 141 AFL games with North Melbourne from 2001-10.
B E L L A R I N E Secondary College Drysdale campus student Liam Dowie (pictured left) won a gold medal at the GKR Karate National Championships last month held on the Gold Coast. The Portarlington based 16-year-old won gold in the Kumite KYU class in 16-17 age group in the one-day event held at Carrara Sports Stadium on November 23. Kyu is a Japanese term used for modern martial arts, while GKR stands for Go-Kan-Ryu. He then backed it up and claimed a silver medal in the Kata KYU class in 16-17 age group. Liam, a year 11 student at Bellarine Secondary College, completes his karate training at the Drysdale Primary School.
Hawks meet Coutas first up as fixture announced MARK HEENAN DRYSDALE plays three of its first five fixtures at the Hawks’ nest next season after the release of the 2015 Bellarine Football League fixture. The Hawks open their season with an away clash against Queenscliff on April 4, which falls on the Easter weekend. Drysdale faces Ocean Grove in its first home clash in round two on April 11, while the Hawks are back at home against Modewarre the following week on April 18. Drysdale senior coach John Fitzgerald said playing each BFL team twice home and away made the 2015 fixture a fair draw. “The great thing about the Bellarine draw is it is actually an
Hawks coach John Fitzgerald talks to his players at pre-season training. uncompromised draw, so you play everyone twice and you play everyone home and away,” Fitzgerald told the Voice last week. Drysdale will conclude its pre-season training schedule prior to Christmas this week. Up to 25 Hawk footballers trained in a
90-minute session held at Drysdale Recreation Reserve on Wednesday December 3 where the Voice was on hand to capture photos. “The numbers have been good – we are really keen to have our younger blokes here,” Fitzgerald said. “It is a good opportunity
with red footys and daylight to get some quality development into those (younger) guys.” The Hawks have conducted two sessions a week on Mondays and Wednesdays, while an optional boxing gym session takes place at the club on Friday nights. Drysdale will re-
commence a pre-season training schedule in new year on the Australia Day long weekend on Monday January 26. M E A N W H I L E the Hawks have appointed dual Drysdale premiership player Adrian Hildebrand as the club’s 2015 reserves coach. Hildebrand, who played in senior BFL premierships in 2009 and 2010, replaces outgoing reserves playing coach Brad Lynch, who relocated to Queensland. In other news, the Drysdale Netball Club is still searching for a new senior netball coach in 2015. For further information email netball club president Michelle Davis at ddavis21@ bigpond.com.
DRYSDALE FOOTBALL CLUB 2015 FIXTURE Round 1 Queenscliff v Drysdale (A) April 4 Easter Round 2 Drysdale (H) v Ocean Grove April 11 Round 3 Drysdale (H) v Modewarre April 18 Round 4 Portarlington v Drysdale (A) April 25 Anzac Day Clash Round 5 Drysdale (H) v Barwon Heads May 9 Round 6 Geelong Amateur v Drysdale (A) May 16 Round 7 Drysdale (H) v Newcomb May 30 Round 8 Anglesea v Drysdale (A) June 6 Round 9 Torquay v Drysdale (A) June 13 Round 10 Modewarre v Drysdale (A) June 20 Round 11 Drysdale (H) v Portarlington June 27 Round 12 Ocean Grove v Drysdale (A) July 4 Round 13 Drysdale (H) v Geelong Amateur July 18 Round 14 Newcomb v Drysdale (A) July 25 Round 15 Drysdale v Queenscliff (H) August 1 Round 16 Drysdale v Anglesea (H) August 8 Round 17 Barwon Heads v Drysdale (A) August 15 Round 18 Drysdale (H) v Torquay August 22
2015
FOOTY FIXTURE
SPORT DRYSDALE &
CLIFTON SPRINGS
FOOTY PRE-SEASON
Cover point Drysdale Cricket Club's Adrian Lilliott looks to the sky as the rain tumbles down at Drysdale Recreation Reserve on Saturday. All Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association grades were cancelled due to wet weather. Picture: LINDSAY KELLEY
Blame it on the rain Voice sports 5255 3233
Coach calls for discussion on covers for hard wickets
MARK HEENAN DRYSDALE Cricket Club coach Shane Cutajar has encouraged BPCA clubs to make covers compulsory on hard wickets after last Saturday’s round six two-day fixtures were abandoned. All BPCA games in A, B and C grades will now be re-scheduled oneday matches on Saturday December 13. Teams in D grade shared the points after their one-day matches on December 6 were washed out. Cutajar believed, with adequate protection on hard wickets, play could have gone ahead last Saturday after the rain stopped around late morning in the Bellarine region on Saturday. Covers are regularly used on turf wickets at nearby Geelong Cricket Association grounds when rainfall occurs. “We have had not one single drop of rain since eleven o’clock (on Saturday),” Cutajar told the Voice “We could have played a full-day of cricket.
“Even though we play on hard wickets, the only thing that stops us from playing a game of cricket is water on our pitch. “If we can keep the water off our pitch and as soon as it stops raining we can play.” BPCA president Ian Caldwell confirmed while there was no league ruling that prevented clubs from placing covers on their hard wicket pitch, the outfield would need to be deemed satisfactory before any play commenced. “Our rules make no mention of covers on the (hard) wickets,” Caldwell said. “You have got to look at the (bowler’s) run ups and the other ground conditions. “It is not just amount of water on the hard wicket itself.” Caldwell said the majority of grounds on December 6 were deemed unfit to play following overnight rain before two-day games were scheduled to commence. “The association rules are if the majority of grounds are deemed unfit then the whole round is cancelled,” he said.
sports@oceangrovevoice.com