A $2 million funding announcement had Bradman Centre board and staff hit for six on Monday.
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A NSW government grant will assist the centre with multiple projects, and ensure the future and expansion of the centre.
Former prime minister of Australia and Bradman Foundation patron John Howard welcomed the funding.
“I would like to thank the NSW government for backing the Bradman Centre and for recognising the value of preserving and sharing the history and significant artefact collection, which interprets our nation’s social evolution through cricket and Australian sport,” Mr Howard said.
“This funding will secure the future of the facility, and allow it to grow further, giving thousands more people the opportunity to enjoy everything it has to offer.”
Bradman Foundation executive director Rina Hore said the funding was a positive for the community.
“For the last two years we’ve worked very hard to build a community program. We’ve tried to get the community engaged her, whether it be Carols by Candlelight or the emergency services,” Ms Hore said.
“There are more people using Bradman Oval in a casual way, whether it be walking their dogs or running around. There’s nearly 200 people that go around that oval every week, and we’ve done that because we’ve allowed access to it and encouraged people to use this asset in the Southern Highlands.”
The grant will enable museum admission fees for students on school excursions to be waived and will ensure the continuation of the interactive attraction for visitors.
It will also allow for the expansion of the centre’s research and curatorial services.
In addition to this, the funding will help the centre to expand its youth programs.
This will include Coverdrive, an activity-based program for public school children with a disability, to increase social skills by being involved in sports.
The funding will assist the centre with the expansion of its nationally significant artefact collection.
The women’s cricket heritage project will also be delivered as a result of the funding, allowing the centre to expand its ability to collect, research, trace, acquire objects and build partnerships to tell the entire story of women’s cricket.
The funding will also allow the centre to further beautify the iconic Bradman courtyard, gardens and statue where Lady Jessie and Sir Donald Bradman’s ashes rest. This is the most photographed site for visitors to the region.
Ms Hore acknowledged staff and board members for their role in securing the grant.
She thanked her staff for their hard work, Bradman Foundation chairman Maurice Newman for his encouragement and patron/director John Howard for his mentorship.
