HOWLONG will honour some of its best known sporting families by officially naming its football and cricket grounds on Saturday.
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The football ground will be named after the Salmon and Pargeter families, while the cricket ground will recognise the contribution of the Grace and O’Halloran families.
The netball courts will also named the Aimee Lea Koehler Memorial Courts.
Aimee Lea tragically lost her battle with depression in 2012.
Lowe Square Recreation Reserve chairman Dave Longley said it was important the township’s history was remembered.
“Howlong is growing so quickly and we didn’t want to lose our history,” Longley said yesterday.
“There has been significant contributions from families, some going back three or four generations, and it’s important to recognise that.
“We think this is a good way.
“Administration and sporting contribution was taken into account in naming the ovals because sporting clubs need both.”
About $800,000, including volunteer labour, has been poured into the recreation reserve in recent years, with help from Corowa Council.
“We have upgraded the whole show in the last four or so years,” Longley said.
“Our cricket oval is new, the footy oval has been reshaped and drained and we have brand new netball courts.”
Howlong will unveil signs at a special ceremony at 12pm on Saturday.
Senior coach Joel Price said yesterday the second-placed Spiders desperately wanted to mark the occasion with a win against Osborne.
“We are setting ourselves for our biggest game of the season so far,” Price said.
“Osborne is in six for first time and I rate them as good as any side in the comp on their day.
“They play a real run and carry game and can hurt you on the scoreboard.”
The stakes are enormous for Osborne.
The Cats are clinging to sixth position ahead of Murray Magpies with coach Daniel McAlister saying his team had little room for error in the run home.
“We just have to keep winning,” McAlister said.
“Every game is pretty much like a final for us.
‘It was the same against Rand-Walbundrie last weekend.
“Howlong is going to be really tough because they have winners all over the ground.
“If you put too much time into one player, another generally bobs up and does some damage.”
McAlister made a surprise return to the playing ranks last weekend but is unsure whether he will line-up against the Spiders.
