It's been a long time coming, but the Phillip Hughes Oval has now been transformed into a worthy tribute to its namesake.
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The new maintenance shed is brimming with machinery, the gleaming pavilion will today be handed over to the club, and the freshly-erected aluminium white picket fence adds a certain touch of class to the Macksville establishment.
When the project was first envisioned many years ago, the idea was simply to build something to house the club's machinery.
"But it all sort of snowballed. We didn't think we'd get the grant we got, but the mayor, the council, and our local member Melinda Pavey all got behind it," one of the upgrade organisers Michael Stennett said.
The announcement of a $342,266 injection of funds last year meant the realisation of a grand master plan to create a cricket ground that would be the boast of the region, and help attract more juniors to the sport.
Mayor Hoban said the project not only had local support, but many fans from further afield who wished to see a fitting tribute to one of cricket's greats.
"We wanted to spread the money as far as we could and give a bit of respect to the name. It's been so good to get something like this done for the area," Michael said.
Another of the organisers of the facility's upgrade, Dane Luffman, said he's "over the moon" about how it's all come together.
He's particularly rapt about the fence which he said really "finishes it off and turns it into a cricket field".
"When I was a kid growing up I always wanted to play on a field with a picket fence."
Neither of them expected the job to be completed in just one weekend.
But many hands make light work; the community flocked to help build the fence with 20 on Saturday and up to 30 people volunteering their time on Sunday, smoke and all.
"There were even people here who don't play cricket. I think there's a lot of people who believe in this,' Michael said.
"We're really grateful for everyone who's given their time to make it happen."
And Archie Turner generously donating his auger drill for the job was particularly appreciated.
The volunteer labour has meant there's more of the grant money to go around for other things, like the carpark and the new entrance sign - complete with an etched image of Phillip - which will soon replace the old Thistle Park sign.
Phillip's name also appears on the elegant white and grey pavilion which has been lovingly constructed by local cricketer Joe Costa over the past six months.
He said it's been a privilege to be a part of the project and many of his contractors feel the same way.
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I certainly wouldn't have let an out-of-towner do it," he said.
According to Dane and Michael, the Hughes family are quite impressed with how everything is going. And they've even come on board as a sponsor for the junior club.
The junior numbers are already strengthening, with more kids turning up each week to participate.
"It's not just the name, but the facilities here now that I think will entice a lot of people to come and play," Michael said.
"For visiting kids turning up here, you'd just get excited. It's just quality. Outside the stadium at Coffs, they're the best fields up and down the coast."
The official opening of the new facilities will likely be scheduled for the new year, with a few finishing touches needed in the pavilion before it's used. But both Michael and Dane are looking forward to Saturday's match when they get to test out their brand new fence for the first time.