Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The Ashes start tomorrow—good luck to Michael Clarke and his men. We have all played backyard cricket. Backyard cricket for generations has united and has divided friends, families and neighbourhoods. It is this quintessential Australian pastime which has been made into a feature length film in the Riverina city of Wagga Wagga. Backyard Ashes traces the story of two neighbours, Dougie Waters, an Aussie factory worker, and his pompous British neighbour Edward Lords, who is the boss of the local factory and nextdoor neighbour. Following a great shot by one of the Dougie's guests during a game of backyard cricket, Edward's prize cat, Dexter, falls into the roaring barbecue and is instantly incinerated, leaving only ashes. This is a movie about a tabby, not tubby—Tubby is another Wagga Wagga cricketing icon, Mark Taylor. Dougie's son, played by Leeton man and Home and Away star Jack Speer, captures this incident of the cat on his camera, uploads it to the internet and it goes viral. It is then decided that the two, who are cricketing enthusiasts, should settle the altercation with a game of backyard Ashes, with the winner to keep the ashes of the prize-winning cat.

This hilarious film has a star-studded lineup, including John Wood of Blue Heelers fame, Andrew S Gilbert from Round the Twist, Felix Williamson of Underbelly, Rebecca Massey from Packed to the Rafters and comedian Damian Callinan. It also has a host of local talent doing cameos, including Lex Marinos, Jamie Way, Adam Drummond, Tim Kurylowicz, Grant Luhrs, Stephen Holt, the late Genelle Mullins and Doug Hogan, with voice-overs by Duncan Potts and Chris Coleman. It has a couple of local TV journos in it, Sarah Burnell and Julieanne Horsman. It has a great cast. There is the Kildare drama teacher Michael Mack, who is a great left-arm fast bowler. I remember him playing with my great club, St Michael's.

The film made its world premiere on 6 November at Wagga's Forum 6 cinema, with a green carpet! All the cast, crew and more than 700 guests were there. I congratulate CrowCrow Productions. This morning I spoke to Wagga Wagga director Mark Grentell. He is very enthusiastic about the film. He said: 'We're 100 not out. We've got $100,000 so far. It's playing in all the regional theatres.' Peter Cox and producer Anne Robinson and the cast and crew also need credit for this magnificent, funny film. It is all about a game of backyard cricket in the iconic community of Wagga Wagga, which is also home to 'Tubby' Taylor, Geoff Lawson, Michael Slater and others.

The film is showing at Wagga Wagga, Albury, Orange and Tamworth. It is well worth a watch. When it comes to a cinema near you this summer, go and see it; it would be unAustralian not to do so. It deserves every success. It was filmed in the Gurwood Street backyard of Mark Grentell's grandad, the late Jack Misson, who was a Wagga Wagga cricket umpiring icon, and Jack's wife, Judy. The film deserves every success. Dale Allison, who has been entertaining in the Riverina for decades, has just landed his first record contract following his sensational underscore. I recommend Backyard Ashes to you. Get to a cinema and have a look at it.

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