When the Timberjacks baseball stadium on Keen Street, Lismore had Hurford Hardwood sponsor the new dugouts, Bill O’Sullivan from Far North Coast (FNC) Baseball Association said “it was a match made in heaven”.

“Hurford is a major sponsor of Timberjacks,” Bill said. “The new dugouts are made with Hurford’s timber.”

Bill said the Timberjacks playing fields were half way through a $7 million redevelopment, funded by the state and federal governments and Baseball Australia. 

“We have five fields in total,” he said. “Two in development, the Baxter Field and three fields near the river so we can play three Little League games at the same time. 

“It’s perfect for softball tournaments. 

“There’s also the four state-of-the-art batting tunnels for people to practice in.

“We have one of the best baseball facilities in NSW, but sadly few people know about it.

“It’s the best kept secret in town.”

The Timberjacks Stadium in Lismore.

“We run four big events a year for little league and seniors and when the league championships are on, families and players come to Lismore and book out all the accommodation.

 “We’ve also had the Australian and Canadian teams play here and they all loved the place and said we had the best dugouts in Australia.

“Build it and they will come. Next year we have the championships here in May and June.” 

Bill said FNC Baseball runs the playing facility and chose to adopt the logo of the Timberjacks, which shows a timber cutter cutting a tree down,.

“We liked the connection between us and the early settlers,” he said.

“Then, it was a natural connection between the Timberjacks, wood and having Hurford Hardwood as a sponsor.”

Garry Connolly, Lexie Hurford, Bill O'Sullivan and Andrew Hurford at the Timberjacks Stadium in Lismore.

Hurford project manager Garry Connolly said Hurford Hardwood donated the wood for the new dugouts and constructed them.

“The dugouts are flood plan appropriate and are not sunk down because we are in a flood plain,” Garry said.

“The seating is made of wood, which is great because we play through Winter and the seats are warmer.”