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The double casting of Adam Gilchrist

Source: ABC Online - 7 February, 2007

It might be difficult to set in stone the town most well qualified to claim Australian cricketer, Adam Gilchrist, as their own, but the image of the cricketer is set to be cast in bronze - twice.

This week two local councils in New South Wales have announced plans to exhibit a bronze bust sculpture of the celebrated batsman and wicket-keeper.

Cootamundra Shire Council announced it has commissioned a bronze bust of Gilchrist for their Captain's Walk collection in Cootamundra. The bust will join another 16 sculptures currently on display in Jubilee Park.

The General Manager, Shane Godbee, says the time seemed right to honour Gilchrist. "Adam has now captained Australia several times and he is now entitled to have his bust included in the Captains Walk."

The Captains Walk was launched in 1998 to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of Sir Donald Bradman, who was born in Cootamundra. The council plans to eventually have a replica of all Australian Test Captains in the collection.

"Because of the very strong connections between Cootamundra and cricket...it was seen as being something that would solidify that connection, to have this Captains Walk to pay tribute to the captains of the Australian Test teams who are so important to the history of Australian cricket," Mr Godbee said.

Meanwhile Bellingen Shire Council has announced plans to erect a replica of the Captains Walk bust in Bellingen. Gilchrist was born at Bellingen Hospital in 1971 and his family lived in Dorrigo for several years before moving to Lismore.

The General Manager of Bellingen Shire Council, Mike Colreavy, says the bust will be placed on display in Council Park and he says it could become a significant tourist attraction. "We're hoping that the community will be very proud of the fact that a great Australian Test player, and a still a contemporary Test player, was born in Bellingen. We hope that generally it will be very well received. I think that a lot of people are interested in Adam Gilchrist's cricket record and I think a lot of people who come to Bellingen will be interested in seeing the bust."

I think that a lot of people are interested in Adam Gilchrist's cricket record.

Gilchrist's father, Stan Gilchrist, based in Lismore, has been liaising with both councils on the projects. He says he is humbled his son is being honoured in such a way.

"Well, it is a little bit of a surprise to us, we actually new that Bellingen, the place where Adam was born was planning to do the same and I hadn't realised that this is a bit of a cooperative effort with Cootamundra and with Bellingen.

"June and I often talk about the fact that Adam is regarded up there with those heroes and that's very humbling. It is awkward in many respects to just imagine that your own son is up there with those people," he said.

In July 2000, the town of Lismore celebrated their connection with Gilchrist by opening the Adam Gilchrist Park. Gilchrist spent many years in Lismore and went to school in the town.

So is there potential for friendly rivalry between the towns? Mr Gilchrist says there is no need to argue the point.

"As a teacher and school inspector, I moved around New South Wales, people in Junee claim him, people in Deniliquin claim him, Lismore were wonderful in naming an oval after Adam and Adam was very humble about that and felt very honoured. We certainly don't feel any pressure or antagonism towards the other people, we don't care who calls him theirs, as long as he keeps playing," he laughs.

- JANE MUNRO