IT’S an Australia Day tradition for many North Queenslanders who will again flock to Charters Towers for the Goldfield Ashes this weekend.
About 240 teams, including serious competitors and those just in it for a bit of fun, have registered this year, for the largest amateur cricket carnival in the southern hemisphere.
The event will kick off tomorrow and continue until Sunday afternoon.
For members of the Yabulu Cricket Club, the weekend is a time-honoured tradition, with the team attending the event for the last 40 years.
Captain “by default” Roscoe Goodwin said the weekend was a celebration of mateship and camaraderie.
“It really is all about mateship and the community spirit and generosity of the people of Charters Towers reinforces why we want to be a part of it, year after year,” Mr Goodwin said.
The team comprises of mainly former Queensland Nickel workers, many of whom were forced to leave town to find work after the Yabulu nickel refinery closed in 2016.
Mr Goodwin said the weekend was a chance to reunite with mates, with members coming from Mount Isa, Moranbah, Sydney and Brisbane.
Charters Towers mayor Liz Schmidt is joining in this year, despite admitting the last time she played a sport was vigoro in Year 10 at school.
“I’m not a cricketer by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve joined a team called The Hormones and I just hope they’re not too serious,” Cr Schmidt said.
“I was at the presentation lats year and they were they having such a good time, enjoying life, they’re feisty outgoing girls and I thought this looks like fun.
“Some of the teams take it really seriously, the devotees of cricket, but it’s all about having a good time regardless of if you’re taking it seriously or not.”
Cr Schmit said the economic benefit to the town could not be underestimated.
“The economic benefit to our community is enormous, whether it’s food, drinks, shopping in the town, the accommodation, it’s extremely good for our community,” she said.
But it might be a wet one, with Bureau of Meteorology Townsville meteorologist Doug Fraser saying there was a 30-40 per cent chance of showers in the Towers on Saturday and Sunday.
