Wurruk Cricket Club: GoFundMe page to help recover equipment lost in recent Gippsland floods
A Gippsland cricket club has suffered extensive damage — believed to be about $3000 to $4000 in total — to its pitch and facilities, after being flooded for the second time in two months.
Bass Coast News
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A Gippsland cricket club has been knocked for six after its pitch and facilities were destroyed in floods for the second time in two months and believed to be $3000 to $4000 in total for recovery costs.
Wurruk Cricket Club curator Johno Bass has set up a GoFundMe page — which has so far raised $100 — and is reaching out for support and donations from the community.
Mr Bass told the Herald Sun the club doesn’t receive a great deal of funding from the council as they are a single-purpose venue.
He said the grounds got 1.5 to 2m of water during their most recent flooding.
“Our little club backs onto the Thompson River, it runs directly behind the oval maybe 50 metres from the back of the oval and of course in our area — so when it floods, it floods,” Ms Bass said.
“It brings it almost right up to the doorstep of the clubrooms.”
Mr Bass said the club lost a set of covers that are used to cover the grounds.
“We saved one set but one set got swept away and got caught on a fence and got torn — I’m not sure on how much they’re worth but I believe it’s somewhere around three to $4000,” he said.
“We need two in case one gets damaged so that we can always cover our ground/batting square.
“Usually when we flood we have to go and clean up the grounds and weed them with herbicides to make sure the weeds don’t grow up so that we have a good ground to play on — and it does take a lot of time and a lot of man hours — we struggle, and it’s always volunteer.”
Mr Bass said he was grateful for the club’s president Brad Light, vice president Luke Tourtoulas, secretary Craig Young, treasurer Nathan Tourtoulas and groundsman Robbie Young for their “tireless efforts”.
“These five have the biggest impact on the club — and without their dedicated work over many years, we may not still be here.”
“We have also had to cancel yet another training today (Thursday) due to another 25mm of rain overnight.”
Mr Bass said that although it was a tough job, it was rewarding to see the kids get up there and win.
“We had our last year’s under 13s premiership team — that was a joint team of Wurruk Cricket Club and the Maffra Cricket Club and we were invited down to the stars game at the MCG on Wednesday night so the kids could all do a walk around with the stars — so that was a good thing for the club,” he said.
“This time around, it has taken a toll on our grounds, our equipment, and our training facilities,” Mr Bass wrote in the fundraiser.
He added the club was in desperate need of financial help.
“We are predominantly a small family run club, with a keen focus on junior development,” he wrote.
“Our grounds, square, and wicket have suffered dramatically during this most recent flood.”
Mr Bass added the club lost boundary ropes, covers, batting nets and other equipment.
“Any assistance would be greatly appreciated,” he said.
The club is situated just west of Sale.
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