While Donald Bradman was undeniably born in Cootamundra and the greatest batsman of all time, how many people know Cootamundra had a phenomenally gifted Australian batsman with much a greater connection to the town?
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In the 19th century, Billy Murdoch held universal respect as the world's best batsman along with his friend W.C. Grace, and for several years was as famous as "the Don" later became.
Next Wednesday, September 4, at 2.30pm in the Stephen Ward rooms, Sydney historian Richard Cashman will address the U3A about Murdoch, who lived in Cootamundra for three and a half years in the early 1880s.
Murdoch's story has been neglected, perhaps nowhere more so than in Cootamundra, where he took up residence in July 1881, when the town's population was only 938, and practised here as a solicitor until the end of 1885.
Co-author of Billy Murdoch, Cricketing Colossus, Richard Cashman writes that the Coota cricket club was, of course, happy to have the Australian captain on its side.
Murdoch's son Donald was born here to wife Jemima.
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