The shortened Ashes Test in Perth might have left administrators scrambling to recover a multimillion-dollar shortfall, broadcasters scrambling to fill three days of airtime and fans wondering what to do with newfound time on their hands, but for others, England’s early capitulation in the series opener was a blessing.
A huge surplus of food, which was intended for another bumper crowd with a third day of cricket anticipated but never used as the game wrapped up inside two days, has been donated to charitable causes across Western Australia.
Optus Stadium, known as Perth Stadium for the duration of the first Test, directed all surplus food to OZHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue service, which in turn partnered with SecondBite and Foodbank WA to distribute the food to those in need across the state.
The organisation said it was the biggest single donation it had ever received in Western Australia.
WA’s deputy premier, Rita Saffioti, lauded the move, saying it demonstrated “community spirit at its best”.
“Thanks to the fast-finishing Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, hundreds of kilos of fresh food have been donated to Western Australians in need,” she said. “When it became clear the match would wrap up early, the Optus Stadium team moved quickly to minimise waste.
“Given the size of the donation – the biggest provided by the stadium to date – OzHarvest has partnered with two other local organisations, SecondBite and Foodbank WA to distribute the products to charities, schools, women’s refuges and individuals in need across Perth.”
Twenty pallets of fruit and vegetables, four pallets of sandwiches and salads, two pallets of bread and four pallets of milk and dairy, totalling hundreds of kilos, were donated.
“Every effort has been made to maximise food recovery,” Optus Stadium CEO Mike McKenna said. “Our chefs are busy turning about 450kg of sliced tomatoes into passata, some of the excess milk will become white sauce and lemon wedges preserved for future use. Being able to support those in need is really a silver lining for the stadium team.”
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The abridged Test match, which was won for Australia thanks to a 10-wicket haul for Mitchell Starc and Travis Head’s brilliant century, left Cricket Australia with a $4m shortfall, even after factoring in savings made in not having to open Perth Stadium beyond day two.
The quick-fire nature of the contest has put organisers and broadcasters on alert ahead of the second Test at the Gabba, which starts next week in Brisbane.
