Cricket lovers get home ground back

Rosa Brook cricketers may play the game on their home pitch for the first time in 20 years after winning the land back from the Water Corporation.

Tom Tate, 76, and South West MLC Barry House negotiated with the Government agency to remove limestone sand covering the pitch, left to protect it when the oval was used as a depot.

Mr Tate was hesitant to speak on behalf of Rosa Brook residents, having lived in the town “only” 50 years, but said he was pleased with the result.

“I’ll never play on it but we’ve got it back,” he said.

“It may become that they’ll play junior cricket out here as the district grows.”

Mr House said he and the residents “got the Water Corp and the Shire on board to restore it to the current position so it can be used again”. He said it was great to see the sporting ground returned to the community.

Rosa Brook resident Don Arthur said he remembered playing cricket on the ground in the 1950s, while Barry Tate recalled organising matches between Rosa Brook and Prevelly in the early 1990s.