Together they stand for a man they hold in such high regard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over 150 expressions of opposition to Wingecarribee Shire Council's new draft public naming policy have been signed by supporters of the Brian Martin Oval proposal.
The supporters are seeking a meeting with Wingecarribee Shire Council executives and an opportunity to brief full council, given that the policy in its current form would eliminate having the Centennial Park cricket oval named after the 'Mr Cricket' of the Highlands, Mr Brian Martin.
Departing General Manager Ann Prendergast recently advised that a decision on naming the oval in honour of Mr Martin had been placed on hold while council progresses the new policy for naming public places.
The policy recommends that facilities such as ovals only be named after people who have been deceased for at least one year, and that anyone to be honoured with a ground naming have a minimum 20-year connection with not only the nominated ground but the land around it.
Brian Martin spearheaded the rejuvenation of the Centennial Park Oval about twelve years ago, which up until that time was derelict.
Encouraged by figures from across the cricketing community, Bowral Blues Cricket Club first approached council in October last year about having the oval - the club's home ground - named in Mr Martin's honour.
Council's executive staff said the club and supporters needed to make a case by obtaining public support in writing.
The responses were overwhelming, with written support obtained from every Highlands cricket club, schools, administrators, coaches, umpires and cricketing heavyweights including Highlands local former England International Barry Knight, Australian player and Highlands product Lauren Cheatle and Australian cricketing legend Doug Walters.
Bowral Blues Cricket Club President Ian Pope said "Our club reached out to council last year and has had numerous meetings and communications with the mayor, councillors and executive staff."
"The advice at the outset was that we needed to make a case by collecting evidence of community support, Pope said.
"People from across the Highlands fell over themselves to write in and council has that correspondence.
"Now we have a shifting of the posts, a new policy that appears to make the Brian Martin Oval naming impossible.
"It's not surprising that the community is rallying once again, objecting to the policy and taking support for the Brian Martin Oval proposal to another level.
"This notion of only naming facilities after people who are deceased flies in the face of local and national precedent - just look at David Woods Oval and the recent push to have the new hockey facilities at Welby will be named after respected locals who are still alive.
"If there's overwhelming support for facilities to be named after someone, each case should be considered on merit and be voted on by councillors, which were the parameters when we commenced this process last year."
Mr Pope pointed out that Brian Martin has just been honoured with life membership of the Highlands District Cricket Association (HDCA), in recognition of his 25 years of contributions to cricket administration, coaching, mentoring and charity work.
"Brian's only the eighth person in the history of the HDCA to be inducted with life membership - that's testimony to what he's done for local cricket," Mr Pope said.
"That's why the community wants the oval at Centennial Park be rightfully named after him.
"Brian spends half his life at the oval giving up his time coaching and maintaining the ground, keeping it as a jewel in the crown of local sporting facilities.
"He's never asked for anything in return, but this time the community is speaking for him."
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.
