While the signage for Michael Slater Oval has been removed, sporting codes still refer to the oval as such due to no new name being assigned. Photo: Supplied.
It has been more than 16 months since a majority of Wagga Wagga City councillors voted to change the name of Michael Slater Oval at Bolton Park. But the popular sporting ground still hasn’t been renamed and many still recognise the old Slater label.
Domestic violence-related charges against the former Australian cricketer sparked criticism from families and parents whose kids play on the ground every week.
The sign was vandalised in May 2024, with spray paint covering the name. Wagga Council then voted to change the name and organised a public exhibition in June and July 2024 to determine whose name should take Mr Slater’s place.
More than a year later, there has been little to no update from Wagga Council as to when or if the name will be changed officially in the near future.
As of writing, the graffitied sign has been removed, and the name has been removed from all WWCC-related websites and documentation. However, due to no new name officially being filed, sporting codes that use the ground still refer to the ground as Michael Slater Oval.
One of the Wagga Wagga City councillors who voted in favour of the name change in May last year was Cr Jenny McKinnon.
Ms McKinnon said she could understand why families and parents were still concerned by the lack of action in changing the name, but said there needed to be time between the decision and the eventual name change to allow the “heat” around the situation to die down.
Wagga Cricket still recognises Michael Slater Oval, despite the name being officially pulled by WWCC more than 15 months ago. Photo: Screenshot PlayHQ.
“It’s disappointing in a lot of ways that the oval hasn’t been renamed yet, but there was a lot of heat from the community around this issue,” she said.
“There’s some benefit, I think, to just leaving that issue for a while, letting it die down and then restarting it.
“There are some things that you want the community to focus on, and then there are other things that you know it’s best to just leave it for a little while so people can have a good think about it.
“In this case, some of the heat needed to die down.”
While Cr McKinnon said the delay in announcing a new name was understandable, she said we were now at the point at which discussions should start again soon.
“From my knowledge, no policy or red tape is preventing it from happening; it’s purely about letting the situation cool down,” she said.
“With that said, I do think 18 months is a fair enough time to start looking back into the naming of it.”
When contacted for comment, Wagga Wagga City Council said there was no further updates regarding the name change.
Slater was raised in Wagga Wagga and attended the former Wagga Wagga Agricultural College.
While playing cricket in the town, he was selected to represent his state as part of the New South Wales Primary School Sports Association cricket team.
Slater then moved to Sydney in his late teenage years before representing Australia in more than 100 international matches, scoring over 5000 runs, including 14 centuries.
After he retired from the sport, he had a successful career in media, including as a commentator for Channel Nine and a co-host of The Footy Show.
The question of whether his name should still be honoured has been highly contested, with debate over whether his legal troubles should override his considerable achievements on the cricket field.
Earlier this year, the NSW Department of Education was criticised for its decision to approve Estella Public School naming one of its four sporting houses after the former Australian cricketer. This led to the department changing the house name to that of a native plant.
