The cricket pitch at the SCG will come alive at the end of March in what promises to be a cracking game with an emphasis on socialisation.
The inaugural Sandhill Ashes, a friendly between neighbouring fire- affected communities Sarsfield and Clifton Creek, will take place at the Sarsfield Cricket Ground (SCG) and feature a 20/20/20 format (your average 20/20 game with 20 players a side who each get a bat). The match is the result of an idea put forward via a community survey by the Sarsfield Community Association and Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team.
A bit of healthy rivalry between the communities and a whole lot of fun for locals (or ‘community engagement’ if you’re looking for a modern term) is the aim.
Clifton Creek captain Jen Smith admits her experience lies in ‘playing cricket at Christmas one time as a kid’, while The Hof has a bit more experience playing in local cricket teams.
“We thought we’re volunteers, let’s do something fun because there’s a lot of heavy work involved in community-led bushfire recovery working on resilience, preparation and recovery,” Jen said.
“It’s open to everyone.”
Speaking to the Advertiser on Monday she said things were “starting to come together”.
“We have help from cricket clubs like Meerlieu and Wy Yung and a lot of support from building, earthmoving and rural supplies companies who did well after the fires and now they’re paying it forward,” Jen said.
“It’s ironic to say but it’s amazing what you can build from a spark.”
Simon said both Community Recovery Committees were aiming to change events up to be able to capture the different cohorts in the community after recently running morning teas, community dinners, art classes and mental health workshops.
Named after the long hill that sits between the Clifton Creek and Sarsfield communities, the Sandhill Ashes urn may be a replica of the actual Ashes urn but its local connection is strong.
It was turned by Shane Wolf, of Lake Tyers Beach, from a piece of tea-tree salvaged from the peat paddock fire that burned for weeks on Charlie Seehusen’s property in Ritchies Road.
Charlie says the tea-tree was placed in trenches more than 80 years ago by Chinese farmers, to act as a drain for them to grow sunflowers, and only came to the surface during the fire-fighting operations.
The base is a piece of Redgum salvaged from a set of stockyards near Bairnsdale, cut on-farm about 80 years ago.
The Sandhill Ashes will take place at the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve on March 28, beginning with a free junior cricket clinic for primary aged kids, run by the Meerlieu Cricket Club, with members of the Australian Cricket Association Masters also on hand.
The volunteer organisers ask people register at the Facebook event page for COVID regulation reasons.

IMAGE:
Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team cricket captain, Jen Smith, with opposing captain, Simon Hof, president of the Sarsfield Community Association, are looking forward to competing for the Sandhill Ashes urn. The donated bat Jen is holding will also be given away during the half-time raffle. K77-2781