Two bushfire-affected communities in Victoria’s east have competed in the inaugural Sandhill Ashes in a bid to attract local crowds more than one year on from the devastating 2019/2020 fires which tore through parts of the Gippsland region.
Key points:
- The Sandhill Ashes is a community event borne out of devastating bushfires
- Both Sarsfield and Clifton Creek were affected by fires which swept through the region in the 2019/2020 Black Summer
- The teams compete for an urn shaped from a piece of tea tree salvaged from a peat paddock fire
Hundreds of people gathered to watch mixed social teams from Clifton Creek and Sarsfield battle it out, with the Sarsfield side taking the game home by one run, 144 to 143.
The match was borne from a local bushfire recovery survey and was played under Twenty20 rules.
Co-organiser and Sarsfield player Phil Schneider said the day was a great way for the neighbouring communities to reconnect after bushfires and COVID-19 lockdowns.
“I think bushfire towns were forgotten a bit during the pandemic, but now that everything has started to relax it’s the perfect way to bring everyone together and have a laugh at ourselves on the field,” he said.
ABC Gippsland: Jedda Costa
)Start of many community recovery events
The match garnered support and funding from several Gippsland community groups which Mr Schneider said had helped Sarsfield and surrounding towns to organise a number of new and exciting local events.
“We’ve had small movie and trivia nights, but this cricket match is the first big event since the fires. It’s been so good for our spirits especially after all the tragedy,” Mr Schneider said.
“It’s onwards and upwards from here.”
ABC Gippsland: Jedda Costa
)The two teams competed for a replica ashes urn made from a piece of tea tree salvaged from a peat paddock fire that burned for weeks on a nearby farm.
The coordinator of the Sarsfield Recovery Hub, Neil Smith, helped craft the special urn and said it held historic local significance.
“It was pretty well preserved so I collected a few bits of it … and when the Sandhill Ashes were proposed I took the pieces down to a wood turner in Lake Tyers and we worked together to make it what it is.”
Sarsfield community busy engaging young voices
Locals have not just been busy picking up their bats and brushing up on their cricket skills.
A grassroots photography project titled Sarsfield Snaps has children and young people from across East Gippsland capturing moments important to them while their communities recover.
ABC Gippsland: Jedda Costa
)Head of the initiative Tiana Felmingham said the program received a 20-camera donation from Fuji Film in February last year, and she is expecting more cameras to arrive in coming months.
“We have over 50 kids now and the program has really helped to build their self esteem,” she said.
“We have a calendar that the kids made last year, large prints have been displayed all over the outside of the recovery hub, and we’re even planning exhibitions in Melbourne and Canberra,” Ms Felmingham said.
ABC Gippsland: Jedda Costa
)Twelve-year-old participant Ashley Wolf said she enjoyed learning new skills and making new friends.
“Sometimes it can be really hard for us to express how we’re feeling and communicate with everyone how we’re coping, so taking Snaps has really helped.”
The project was recently granted $40,000 from the Bushfire Recovery Appeal which will help to develop a short film through young eyes.