Mr Simmons, who is a member of The Friends of Centennial Park shared this original story from The Bathurst National Advocate which originally ran on Thursday, October 13, 1932.

Boys and girls in battle over Centennial Park Wicket application to council

Feeling is running high, between the Pirates Vigoro Club and a boys' cricket team concerning the use of a pitch in Centennial Park, Bathurst South.

To last night's council meeting, the Pirates made a complaint against the toys and the boys also lodged a protest against the girls.

“I wish to complain on behalf of the Pirates Vigoro Club, re a Mr Gebbic and a Mr Baker taking charge of the ground which was allotted to our club by your council,” wrote the secretary.

“Messrs Gebbic and Baker had a few boys playing cricket on the ground and refused to allow the girls the use of the ground.

“I might mention that some of our members worked hard chipping the grass off and making the pitch wider.

“Our members wish to thank your inspector (Mr Mintyre) for the trouble he had in trying (without success) to remove the boys, also Constate Gobert.”

A petition containing 18 signatures protested to the council against the Pirates taking possession of the cricket pitch on the south-eastern side of the park.

“We are given to understand that the council gave permission to the Pirates Club to take our wicket and if such is the case we desire to state our case,” added the letter.

“We have played there for five years and never caused any one any inconvenience, nor have we made ourselves a nuisance to anyone.

“Nearly all our team are residents of Seymour Street and it is the only place we have to play where there is enough room to enjoy ourselves. We also worked hard for weeks to make this pitch.

“There is plenty of room in other parts of the park for the girls to make a wicket for themselves and we do not think it fair of them to deprive us of our pitch.”

The boys added that they had the full support of their parents in the matter and asked to be allowed to retain the wicket.

The petition was signed by N and P Gebbie, Laurio Baker, Maurice Healey, Alan Healey, John Healey, Bon Edwards, Ray Foss, J Delaney, D Prendergast, R  Booty, R Kenny, M  Foss, N Gresser, Clive Mendham, TH Stone senior, Alf Stone and T Stone junior.

Referring to a vigoro application by tile Cazna Club for permission to play in Centennial Park, alderman Browning Bald said that vigoro was a game which had caught on in Bathurst and it would be a good plan to set aside Centennial Park for girls’ sport.

He added that a reputable citizen had informed him that when the girls were playing on the gaol flat a number of young hoodlums put in an appearance, and while not using offensive language, were insolent and impertinent.

They behaved generally in a bad manner and the girls were forced to seek another site.

Hoodlumism should not be tolerated as it would give the city a bad name.

Aid. Kennerson suggested the girls should be given the use of the ground at specified times, leaving other periods free for other sport.

It was finally decided to allow the use of the ground to the girls at weekends and holidays, the matter of allocating the playing areas being left in the hands of the Parks Committee.

Mr Kennerson pointed out that the girls had applied to the council tor the ground whereas the boys had taken ‘French leave’, The problem was referred to the Parks committee.