A UNIQUE piece of Mildura and district history will be a key part of the 2016 Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Club Championship.
Just like at Lords in England, a bell will be rung five minutes before the start of play on each day of Willowfest from December 27.
The idea came from Willowfest president Anthony Telfer, who was inspired by a Mildura Fire Brigade meeting he attended.
“They had a bell that they started their meeting with,” Telfer said at the Willowfest launch on Tuesday evening.
“I asked around the room if there was anywhere I could get a bell from.”
Telfer said one of the men at the meeting, Lou Cameron, asked him about what he needed a bell for and said he might be able to help.
“About six months ago a gentleman by the name of Bill Walker walked into my office and said ‘I’ve got something for you’,” Telfer said.
“Bill walked into my work and I thought ‘I wonder what this bloke wants’, he said ‘come out to my car, I want to give Willowfest something’.”
That “something” was a bell from the last front-mounted pumper fire engine in Mildura.
“So the bell has got some history in it,” Telfer said.
“Bill bought it at auction in Bendigo for $50.” The bell will go to each ground at Willowfest and will be rung by five key figures in the Willowfest story.
Mr Walker will ring it first as a reward for his donation, with Leonie Hausler – the wife of “the father of Willowfest” Charlie Hausler – hoped to be the next to ring the Willowfest Bell.
The first president of Willowfest, Brian Weightman, and fellow former president Bob Sampson will also have their turn before 2016 Willowfest ambassador and former Australian Test captain Kim Hughes has the final ring before the final.
By Angus Dearlove
Louise Donges – photographer
Sunraysia Daily
