Wagga Wagga Council prepares its sportsgrounds for winter sports

Wagga Wagga Council has advised that with summer sports such as cricket now wrapping up, Council’s groundskeeping team will be preparing the fields for a great winter of sport.

Wagga Wagga City Council’s Supervisor Sportsgrounds Brian Cattell shared “we’ll be over-sowing some of the fields with rye, protecting the dormant cooch grass underneath and creating a deep green cover for footy players.”

Cattell has led the team responsible for maintaining, protecting and nurturing these sports grounds across the local government area for six years and added “I love the work with a passion. I started working as a labourer for Wagga Wagga City Council when I was 18 years old, and after working with different crews, ended up working on sports grounds.”

Cattell said he boosted his skills by studying at TAFE, which he did through work, earning a diploma in Sports Turf Management.

Cattell advised the job covers everything from mowing and fertilizing the fields and treating weeds, dealing with contractors, looking after light systems, irrigation and everything and anything in between.

“In the end you have to treat the grass like a toddler – it needs food, water and air to thrive, and that’s what our job’s about.”

Cattell said the best thing about his work is getting to see the end result, especially when stripes are being placed - “that gives you a real sense of achievement. It looks good and the community appreciates it, and after all they’re our customers.”

Cattell has a soft spot for Robertson Oval in Bolton Park explaining “It was my first full time green keeper gig. I was here when it was redeveloped, and that was a real eye-opener on how to rebuild an oval to a high standard. Yeah, I love all the fields, but Robo has a special, special spot.”

Image top. Wagga Wagga Council’s Supervisor Sportsgrounds Brian Cattell says Wagga Wagga’s fields and ovals will soon be prepared for winter sport; Image below. Brian Cattell has a ‘soft spot’ for Bolton Park’s Robertson Oval, his first full time green keeper gig.Credit: Wagga Wagga Council.