WILLOWFEST organisers have announced one change to the lineup for this year’s championships – In: Les Burdett; Out: Rodney Hogg. Renowned cricket oval curator Burdett has replaced the former Australian fast bowler as the championships ambassador. After 41 years as a curator at the famous Adelaide Oval, Burdett retired earlier this year. He now manages 30 hectares of sports ovals, parks and buildings at the Adelaide Oval and in the city’s west.
Willowfest president Anthony Telfer said luring Burdett was another coup for the
popular championships. “Les is widely regarded in his field and has come across many international players during his time in that role,” he said. “We felt he would add another dimension to the competition outside the playing field.” Burdett follows an impressive list of Willowfest ambassadors, including Hogg and former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann and current Australian selector Merv Hughes.
The
Tasmanian-born curator joined the South Australian Cricket Association in 1969 and graduated to head curator in 1978. In the years that followed he developed a reputation second-tonone in international cricket. Burdett was lauded in 1987 when invited to oversee the production of pitches for the inaugural World Cup on the sub-continent — won by Australia. His expertise and advice is highly regarded and he has been a consultant for many international cricket and other projects. In 2008, Burdett was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to cricket and the turf industry. A regular these days on the public speaking circuit at sporting and corporate functions, Burdett will be the guest speaker at the championships awards dinner. His role as ambassador will also include attending a one-day session for local curators on turf management issues during November.
