Pat Kerin and Ken You after the Legacy Cricket match. Photo: Tim Warren.
Cootamundra Cricket held their annual Legacy cricket match at Albert Park to raise money for Legacy Cootamundra.
The match began at 5:30 pm with about 12 local cricketers, both seniors and juniors, braving the rainy conditions to help support a great cause.
Entry to play in the game was $20, with each pair of batsmen getting four overs in the middle before moving on to field or bowl.
Legacy Cootamundra is currently holding its annual raffle which has already raised an astounding figure of over $2800 from donations in town.
An extremely generous donation of $2000 from Winston and Suzie McDonald from Wallendbeen also provided much appreciated
financial support.
Winston and Suzie love their cricket, having been involved with the Queanbeyan District Club in the 1970s, where Winston was President and Suzie was Secretary.
With the donations collected from the Legacy cricket match, the final donation figure is expected to be over $5000 in total.
Ken You, President of Legacy Cootamundra, said the money is greatly welcomed to help support widows of servicemen who have died in the war or from injuries since the war.
“At one stage we had 100 ladies in Legacy Cootamundra, now we’re down to 30,” he said.
“We use the money for Christmas cheer. We help supplement the income for the women at Christmas time and give a small gift for birthdays.
“We also try and hold two luncheons a year for ladies, consisting of sandwiches, scones and tea.”
Pat Kerin from Cootamundra Cricket said the Legacy cricket match is a great initiative that helps support locals.
“It’s all good fun here at the cricket but the money will all go towards supporting Cootamundra Legacy and all the great work they do.”
Legacy has provided support to the families of Australian Defence Force men and women who have lost their life or health in conflicts such as World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Formed in 1923, Legacy Australia will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, highlighted by a torch relay that will start in October in London and travel to Australia, coming through the Riverina and visiting the majority of the clubs.
The partnership between Cootamundra Cricket and Legacy Cootamundra came about after Ken came to town in 2010, with Pat holding raffles at cricket matches with the prize of cricket gear.
“Pat did that for several years and gave the money to Legacy.
“I saw him sitting outside IGA one day and I said, ‘where are all the helpers, Pat’, he said, ‘we don’t have many, they are either at school or they are working’,” Ken recalled.
“He basically did it by himself, so I said next year we’ll help you.
“So, I took it to the board and said are you prepared to sell raffle tickets for them which they agreed to.”
The close partnership between the two organisations has been a close and fruitful one over the years, raising roughly $25,000 throughout that time.
“I’m very grateful for Pat’s support and Cootamundra Cricket for supporting a good cause that supports local ladies.”
The Crusaders were beaten in the semi-final, while the B-grade Stockingbingal side is expected the win the competition, with Centrals finishing their season three weeks ago.
Tim Warren