IN SEPTEMBER the Bega Valley will celebrate 150 years of Australia’s favourite summer sport, cricket.
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Bega-Angledale Cricket Club’s A grade captain Dave Allen said anyone, and everyone, is invited to a celebration night featuring guest speaker Kerry O’Keeffe on September 6 at the Bega golf club.
“It’s just highlighting the milestone of 150 years,” Allen said.
The club had used archives of papers from the 1800s to work out when club cricket had started in the region.
“1864 to 1865 tends to be the period when it started in the formal sense, that’s as far back as we could find and that’s where the 150 years comes from,” he said.
Tickets include a two-course dinner and will feature a talk from O’Keeffe and a Q and A session.
“He’s a real entertainer and pretty well-known cricket commentator,” Allen said.
“He played 24 Tests for Australia in the 70s and a few one-dayers.
“He has been an ABC commentator for about 15 years and worked on Channel Nine.”
Allen said there was no doubt O’Keeffe would have a wealth of experience from his time on, and off, the field to share with guests on the night.
The night will also feature raffles aimed at raising funds for junior cricket in the area.
The Far South Coast is steeped in cricketing history, with Bega historically boasting three clubs at one time.
“In the 70s and 80s Bega had three clubs: Bega, Angledale and the RSL Club.”
Allen wasn’t sure exactly what happened, but the RSL Club had fallen on the wayside, while the other two clubs amalgamated.
Meanwhile, tickets for the night are already selling fast and seats are limited.
Tickets are $55 and covers entry and a two-course dinner, they are available at AutoPro Bega.
There is also a Facebook page for the event featuring footage and information about O’Keeffe and the night.
Search 150 summers of cricket in Bega with Kerry O’Keeffe on Facebook.