Plans for statue for Dungog cricket legend

The Doug Walters Foundation is a newly established organisation aimed at supporting cricket in rural areas and is behind the plan to recognise Walters in his home town.

Ever humble, Walters was surprised when he heard about the plans to construct a monument of himself outside Dungog's Visitor Information Centre.

"I was surprised and a little embarrassed to be honest. I don't know whether I'm worthy of having statues around the place," he said.

The Australian cricket legend grew up in Dungog before going on to play cricket for Australia.

Mr Walters' son, Bryn Walters led the plan to create a statue of Doug Walters and is also a director of the newly formed Doug Walters Foundation. He said the idea to build the statue came during a trip to Dungog. "Lots of people over a long time have suggested it to me. During our trip last year I got sick of hearing it and thought that we needed to put it into action and actually do it," he said.

Seeing the public art throughout Dungog, Bryn saw an opportunity to honour his father and also bring people to town. "A piece of public art in Dungog will not only look good but it will help people remember Dungog and also bring people," he said.

The establishment of the Doug Walters Foundation comes as both Bryn and Doug see cricket beginning to decline both in Dungog and NSW as a whole. Bryn said that the foundation is in discussions with Dungog cricket clubs to assist them however they can.

Doug sees the issue as expanding beyond cricket and into all sports. He hopes that by supporting cricket it will help other sports as well. "It's not only Dungog, it's almost every town in NSW. It's not only cricket that's declining," Mr Walters said. "It doesn't have to be cricket, as long as they are out there playing sport. They make friends - friends that stay with them for the rest of their life and keep them out of trouble."

The Australian Sports Foundation has a website set up allowing people to donate to the Doug Walters Foundation. The statue is expected to be unveiled in October.