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Doug Walters and wife, Caroline, are thrilled with Louis Laumen’ s bronze statue of the dashing batsmen in his prime, after cutting another ball to the boundary. Photo: Kathryn Johnston.
Our resident journo Greg Martin travelled to Dungog, NSW to witness the unveiling of Doug Walters’ statue and he gives us some insight into his travels.
by Greg Martin
There was movement in the town, for the word had got around that a colt from the bush had got away from the Big Smoke to perform a mighty deed.
And that deed, performed by cricket legend, Doug Walters, was to unveil a magnificent life-size bronze statue of himself, smashing away another ball to the boundary.
The statue, created by renowned sculptor, Louis Laumen, is situated in a small park in the centre of Doug’ s old hometown, Dungog.
The occasion would have been a burglar’ s dream-come-true, for just about everyone in Dungog attended the unveiling of the statue.
Also making the trek to Dungog to join in the unveiling and the following celebratory dinner and show at Dungog RSL, were a host of mates from far and wide.
Fellow champion cricketers on hand were Ian and Trevor Chappell, Rick McCosker, Geoff Dymock and Greg Matthews, champion jockey Malcolm Johnston and golf’ s Craig Parry.
Performing the unveiling deed were Dashing Doug and his beloved wife of 58 years, Caroline.
As the veil dropped there were“ oohs and aahs” from the big crowd which then burst into sustained applause.
Such were the numbers in attendance, the local constabulary blocked off the main street to accommodate the big crowd.
Later that night at the Dungog RSL, 250 guests dined on delicious Chinese cuisine and enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining show, with topflight performances by Australian ballad singer, Matt Scullion, and comedian and Country vocalist, Greg Hayes.
The occasion doubled as a fundraiser for the remarkable Doug Walters Foundation which raises funds to foster and promote cricket, primarily in the bush.
Everyone certainly dug deep in purchasing raffle tickets and coughing up big bucks at the auction of a host of fabulous items.
Doug regularly returns to his old hometown, dragging along many mates who spend a few days playing golf and, most importantly, injecting money into local businesses through accommodation and spending up big on food and, ah-um, beverages.
Doug’ s journey to cricket legend status and being regarded as one of the most beloved sportsmen this country has produced, began in Dungog 80 years ago come December 21.
He was always going to take an interest in cricket – his parents, May and Ted, played in the local men’ s and women’ s competitions, and naturally their four offsprings, followed suit.
Colleen joined May in the women’ s game while Warren, Doug and Terry kicked off their careers in Dungog Cricket Club’ s junior ranks.
Dungog was also where Doug and Caroline, a local girl who went on to have a long career in teaching, fell in love and married in 1967 while Doug was still a National Serviceman.
Doug found much joy on the cricket field, making runs and getting wickets, but he says for him, bagging Caroline as his wife was his greatest achievement.
28 ISSUE 183 // AUGUST 2025 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT