Former great Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg has accepted the role of Ambassador for the 2008 Willowfest Australian Cricket Club Championships.
Since his retirement from first class cricket, Hogg has established himself as an entertaining and engaging public speaker. Hogg approaches his new role in life the same way as his cricket, full on with no back steps.

In his playing days Hogg became a national crowd favourite with his aggressive tearaway fast bowling and fierce competitiveness that added spark to his controversial career. Local crowds loved the strong, blond headed quick bowler and the chant of Hoggie, Hoggie, Hoggie was often ringing in opposing batsmen’s ears as he stormed into bowl on grounds right across the country in the 80's.

Hogg stormed on the scene in the 1978/79 Ashes series taking 6/74 in his debut against the English team. He took 123 wickets in his 38 Tests for Australia and 85 wickets in his 71 match One Day International career.

Hogg's engaging personality will be a perfect fit for the Willowfest Tournament, which kicks off on December 27. The format of this years Tournament will remain as the same format as previous years, which organizers hope will attract even more teams to this unique Cricket Carnival, which has been runniing for over 30 years.

In his role as Ambassador, Rodney Hogg will help launch the the carnival in October and be Guest Speaker at the Presentation Dinner at the completion of the Championships. He follows on from last years Ambassador Darren Lehmann whose attendance enhanced the Championships. 

In addition to his speaking engagements, Hogg is commentating Australian Cricket for Channel C7. He is certainly one of the personalities of Australian cricket and in his own words "I was there for the 500 to one, I was there for the 43 cans, I was there for the underarm and I was there for the aluminium bat ", so Hogg is sure to have some fascinating stories to tell over the cricket championships.
The Willowfest Committee with the assistance of Cricket Victoria have been fortunate to engage Hogg for his Ambassodorial role. The official launch of this year’s Championships is to be held at the Mildura Settlers on Wednesday October 29.

Local Clubs Back Willowfest.

All Sunraysia Cricket Association Clubs and Red Cliffs Cricket Association clubs are providing support for the up coming Willowfest Country Club Cricket Championships.

Willowfest Committee Chairman Anthony Telfer said that with the support of all the clubs in the region and the assistance of Global Water in providing water storage facilities, this years championships starting on December 27, now promises to be as successful as in past years.

Mr Telfer is confident that with all this support, the ground restrictions of the drought can be overcome.

With 18 teams now registered to play in the four divisions of the Championships and playing facilities finalised, it promises to be an exciting four days of cricket.

Teams are travelling from all parts of Victoria and South Australia to participate, including last years Division One title winners the O’Malley’s Panthers. An interesting entrant is from the Wendouree Cricket Club from Ballarat, who are expected to bring a line up boasting players with district cricket experience capable of challenging the Panthers quest for back to back titles.

The local Under 18 Mallee Bulls team led by both Adam Thomson & Sam Skinner are certainly not out of contention and are confident that with players with 1st Division Experience in the line up they can match these highly credentialed visitors.

The teams are playing for a total prize pool of over $10,000, which is great incentive.

This great prize money can only be achieved through the support of many generous sponsors who see the Championships as an important sporting promotion in the region.