A DECADE on and former Nichols Point cricketer Josh Herrick’s memory lives on strong through the annual Josh Herrick Tribute match.
The cricket-obsessed teenager died in May 2010 after a 17-month fight against osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, with the Red Cliffs Cricket Association and Mildura East playing off in a memorial Twenty20 tribute match in his honour since.
This year’s event will be run on December 15 at Quandong Park, with Josh’s dad Paul looking forward to the day.
“It’s sensational how it’s been running for 10 years,” he said.
“We try to select a side of people who have played against Josh, there’s some guys who didn’t play against him but then there’s a lot that did – and with him.”
Paul’s first cricket club was Mildura East, hence the connection, but he is a longtime member of the RCCA and its current president.
Games start at 4pm with an under 14 Twenty20 match, followed by seniors under lights if needed.
Paul Herrick said he was thankful for the sponsors who had been coming on board to help support the popular event – while Cricket Victoria has also come to the table with a Renegades cricket bat to be raffled off.
This year the Josh Herrick match will combine with the Pink Stumps Day – an initiative that the South West Cricket Club has been running in past seasons.
Club president Alex Moriconi said it was practical to combine the two events.
“I’ve been to the Josh Herrick game for a couple of years now just as a spectator,” he said.
“Last year when I was watching I had a bit of a chat with Paul and it just made a bit of sense to try and bring the two events together, to see if we can get a bit more of a crowd down for both events, more reach with the pink stumps and get breast cancer awareness out there.”
All funds raised will go towards the McGrath Foundation.
