General News
14 February, 2026
Cricket icon headlines fire appeal fundraiser
CRICKET legend Merv Hughes has been secured for a special fundraiser next week to support Carranballac following the Skipton-Streatham fires, which destroyed the Carranballac cricket clubrooms. The fire recovery fundraiser at Snake Valley’s Royal Hotel will be held on February 27 from 12pm to 6pm, bringing together community for an afternoon of food, entertainment.
Guests will enjoy a meal and drinks package, live music from Billy Menhennet, as well as raffles and an auction.
Royal Hotel Co-owners Simon Wylie, Stuart Sealey and Mark Henry have worked together to organise the event, drawing on connections across the region.
“We’ve done a few events like this, one was for men’s mental health, and it’s good because it is an opportunity for a lot of them to actually get out off the farm and have a day off, have a good feed and a few drinks and socialise with people who have been in the same situation,” Mr Wylie said.
Mr Wylie said one of the co-owners’ connections to Merv Hughes helped secure the cricketing great’s appearance.
“Once we discussed that we were doing it for the cricket club, Merv was quite happy to come and help.”
Mr Wylie said the Royal Hotel has strong ties to the Carranballac and Skipton district.
“There is a lot of people we know from that area that come here because Skipton doesn’t really have a hotel. Mark (Henry) has a fairly good link with a lot of the farmers out in that area, so it’s just the connection to the community and just ‘let’s do something’,” he said.
He said rebuilding the clubrooms would benefit more than just the cricket club.
“I know there is another four associations that run out of that cricket club, so if we can get it rebuilt then it brings back their community, doesn’t it?”
The fundraiser will include both a raffle and an auction, with all proceeds directed to the organisation.
“We’ve got a raffle and an auction, and 100 per cent of the profits will go straight to the organisation,” Mr Wylie said.
“The objective is to try and make them $20,000, and I suppose one dollar is better than anything.”
Tickets for the event are available online via TryBooking, at https://www.trybooking.com/DITGQ
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