On Friday, a ceremony was held at the oval to officially rename it after Mr Mulligan.Ted Mulligan's ambition to be a professional cricketer was recognised on Friday with the naming of Guyra's cricket oval in his honour.
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The 102-year-old was a good batsman in his day, and did play for NSW Country. He has been involved in Guyra Cricket Club his whole life and played representative cricket until he was 66 years of age. There were 40 family members of the land out in an area called Glenore.
"I never thought anything like this would happen to me and I consider it a great honour and a privilege for both myself and my family to have the oval named after me," Mr Mulligan said.
He used to play a lot of cricket; and it was his ambition to be a professional cricketer. He practiced and was a good batsman.
Former Prime Minister John Howard was among the people to pay tribute to Mr Mulligan on Friday with written messages, which were read out by family member Lindsay Mulligan.
"As Prime Minister, I remarked - only half jokingly - that the most important job in the country was the captain of the Australian cricket team. The captain of the local cricket team is no less important for a country community, but perhaps more complicated, especially when all 11 members of the team are family members," wrote Mr Howard.
Another message came from former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist.
"The list of your contributions to Guyra and Northern NSW is outstanding," Gilchrist wrote. "I salute you, Ted, and pay tribute to all that you have achieved. The naming of your cricket oval is small recognition but represents the status in which you are held through out the whole region. I am in awe of all that you have done and can only say well done and thank you.
Another former test cricketer, Rick McCosker, wrote a message which recalled Mr Mulligan's work constructing and laying the turf wicket.
"I remember my trips to Guyra for Inter-district matches and playing on core matting....these trips were a very important part of my formation as a cricketer and a person, witnessing the love of the game itself, and having the opportunity to match it with older men," Mr McCosker wrote. "I owe a big debt to the men who played 'country" cricket and those such as yourself who have worked over the years to provide the necessary opportunities and facilities."
The proposal to name the oval Ted Mulligan Oval was endorsed by Armidale Regional Council in recognition of Mr Mulligan's long standing commitment and dedication to the town and community.
