User:Ionaswamptiger/sandbox

The Iona Cricket Club is an unique cricket club not only because it is one of the few privately owned cricket grounds in Australia, but also because it is located in a cow paddock with cows grazing around its perimeter. Most private cricket grounds are not used primarily for regular club cricket, but the Iona Cricket Club fields teams in the Warragul & District Cricket Association, located in West Gippsland, Victoria.

Early History: Back in the 1890's Iona not only had a cricket team but also a football team, which won a premiership against Trafalgar prior to 1900 playing on a Wednesday. The Iona colours where green & white. Iona is located south of the townships of Garfield (approximately 8 km) and Bunyip. Iona is approximately 83 km from Melbourne, capital of the , located in . The  which runs through Iona was originally a hand dug drain to drain the area know as the . During the 1890's the construction of the Bunyip River saw many workers settle on small 20 acre allotments while they worked digging the drain. Whilst little is known of the original Iona Cricket Club it appears to have run till the early 1930's before going into recess. In one game it appears there were at 9 of the players with the name Schmutter. Other names included the Sippo brothers & Colin Costain, father of the late Eaun & Ian Costain.

Recent History: In 1996, Bob Rogers who father played only 1 game for the original Iona Cricket purchased the original site located between Parish & Murray Roads, Iona from the Schmutter Estate at auction. Bob Rogers grew up in Iona, but had to play all his cricket with Cora Lynn Cricket in the now extinct Bunyip & District Cricket Association.In 1996 Bob Rogers applied to enter one cricket team in the  (WDCA). The location of the current ground is further east of the original ground which was located further west, close to an old oak tree & the near the intersection of Parish & Murray Road. Back in 1996 the ground consisted of a paddock enclosed by an electric fence with a concrete pitch & 2 sets of rollout carpet which where pegged down each Saturday. In the early days it was not usual for the cows in the adjoining paddock to break in & leave the pitch covered in cow manure, which had to be removed before the game started each Saturday. Iona's first "pavilion" was a bark hut which provided a table & 2 seats for scoring & serving afternoon tea. The hot water was provided by a small gas burner heating a billy of water & a small BBQ plate to do a BBQ after the game. Given there was no electricity & the original team members were very social it frequently saw them searching around in the dark about 11pm to dismantle & pack up the BBQ & gas bottle. The first captain of Iona was Brian Murphy who had previously played with the . The first game was against local rivals the . The first duck scored for Iona was made by Geoffry Miller who opened the batting for Iona in that game against Bunyip. Some of the names of the players in Iona's first year included Brian Murphy (captain), Bob Rogers, Russell Ferguson, Jon Martindale, Geoff Miller, Andrew Davidson, Daniel Tomasetti, Scott McKay, Simon Finger, Stephen Kealy & the Bawden Family (Geoff, Glen & Cameron). Over the years Iona grew from 1 team in the Warragul & District Cricket Association to 3 senior teams & 3 junior teams (Under 12,14 & 16). In recent years Iona has not fielded junior teams, but has now become the base for an ever growing Iona Over 60's team which plays games on Sundays & ocassionally on Wednesday.