Recent Media Releases

HG TURF - Pitcher Partner Contact 65, 2008

HG Turf, like many of our long standing clients, is a family owned company based in Melbourne. The company grows and distributes grass for domestic lawns and also specialises in the design, construction and maintenance of turf sports fields throughout the Asia Pacific region.

The company’s founder Ross Sutherland, a pioneer of the Australian seed industry since the 1960’s, commenced turf operations in 1992, setting up a turf farm on the Goulburn River at Alexandra. The turf farm supplies premium quality natural turf,grown on the rich alluvial flats of the Goulburn River. The turf is delivered fresh from the farm to home lawns around the state. Two of Ross’ sons are instrumental in the management of the company; Gavin runs the turf farm while Hamish oversees t Melbourne sales team and the stadium sports turf business.

In 1998, HG Turf joined together with the Motz Group Inc to produce a range of products specifically designed for the sports field market. One of their most successful products has been the Motz Stabilised Turf – TSII, the latest innovation in natural turf stabilisation technology. The Motz Stabilised Turf combines natural turf and synthetic tufts, with the natural leaf blades residing above the top of the synthetic tufts, creating a fully natural grass surface. If the turf canopy is worn away, the sand-filled synthetic matrix continues to provide a consistent, sure footed playing surface. The product, which can be grown on site or produced at the turf farm, also has a turf replacement system which enables worn areas of turf to be easily replaced mid season, and played on immediately.

HG Turf is recognised as Melbourne’s premier turf company, supplying turf to stadiums such as the MCG and Telstra Dome. HG Turf won the contracts to supply turf to the 2000 Olympic Stadium in Sydney, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Stadium (MCG) in Melbourne and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

HG Turf has also supplied its patented turf to many other Australian and New Zealand stadiums, including the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra Stadium, and the Gabba in Brisbane.

Recent drought and water restrictions have severely affected the turf industry, and 2007 was a particularly bad year. In response to a challenging environment, HG Turf saw the opportunity to diversify not only by converting to warm season drought tolerant turf varieties to meet changing consumer demand, but also by moving into selling synthetic turf to the domestic and, commercial turf markets. Previously, the company had also established a cherry orchard.

Whilst continuing to diversify its domestic turf business, the HG Turf stadium business continues to expand. The company will continue to supply the MCG in 2009 and 2010, has contracts with ANZ stadium in Sydney, Subiaco Oval in Perth, AMI stadium in Christchurch, and Eden Park in Auckland, and has a five year turf supply contract with Canberra Stadium.

The Pitcher Partners relationship with HG Turf began in 1974, when a very young Ron Pitcher was asked by Ross Sutherland and his brother to become their accountant. Ross Sutherland has many memories of his early relationship with Ron Pitcher, who made a point of visiting the farm several times a year. His arrival in his “very sporty car” often included a speeding fine, or the information that he had just talked his way out of one. If induced to stay the night, Ron would sometimes agree to play tennis the next day. His dedication and enthusiasm for the game – “he was like a terrier on the tennis court”, matched his commitment to his client and the business – “We were very fortunate to have him” said Ross Sutherland.

That early relationship which developed with the fledgling turf business has continued to this day, with the company and Sutherland family members continuing to use Pitcher Partners for all accounting, audit and tax services.

We are delighted to have been involved with a company that not only has worked hard over many years to become the premier turf company in Melbourne, but has also shown the foresight and ability, to be able to successfully diversify its operations in response to its business challenges.

SCHOOL'S FIELD OF DREAMS - Geelong Advertiser - 20 DEC 2008

SCORCHING sun will no longer stop play in Grovedale, thanks to a new drought-resistant field.

A $130,000 government grant has seen the oval at Grovedale College covered in tough Santa Ana couch grass, which will keep it in use for the school and community to enjoy year round.

Garry Fletcher, the college's director of sport, has been fighting for the improvement for several years.

"The pitch had just turned into a dust bowl so we are very fortunate to have this new grass," he said.

"The ground is now inviting and we are looking forward to the school and sports community making use of it."

The improved ground will be used by the school when pupils return in February and also by the Grovedale football and cricket clubs.

"It's fantastic," college principal Janet Matthews said. "It will make a huge difference to the school next year and also we are pleased the Grovedale clubs will be able to enjoy it."

The turf can withstand more wear and tear and will reduce water usage by 30 per cent.

South Barwon MP Michael Crutchfield said it was a great asset for the area.

"Our local sports facilities are vital to the social fabric, strength and well-being of the community," he said.

'HG TURF'S 3-PEAT AT THE MCG' - Lawn & Turf Suppliers Magazine SEPT 2006

HG Turf recently finished relaying the MCG arena in time for the ANZAC Day AFL match between Collingwood and Essendon, witnessed by 92,000 spectators at the new look MCG.

The recent turfing of the MCG represented the third time in three years that HG Turf has successfully re-laid the arena with Motz Stabilised Turf. On each occasion an event loomed large requiring the newly laid turf to be ready for immediate play.

The arena (20,000m²) was first re-laid in December 2004 after the field was made flat for the Boxing Day Test between Australia v Pakistan.

Following the 2005 AFL Grand Final two thirds (12,000m²) of the turf was removed and the Commonwealth Games Athletics Track was installed. The track was then covered with turf for the 2005 Boxing Day Test between Australia v South Africa.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2005 Boxing Day Test the turf was removed exposing the athletics track. It was taken back the HG Turf’s farm at Alexandra and maintained for future use. The remaining turf (8,000m² inside the athletics track) was also removed in February of 2006 to make way for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony stage.

Following the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, HG Turf was responsible for reinstalling the turf inside the athletics track. The mandate was tight with HG Turf given only 40 hours to install and consolidate the 8,000m² of turf. The operation was completed in 36 hours working 24hours per day, two shifts of 12 hours with each shift having 15 workers.

HG Turf and its product had successfully undertaken such a mandate previously installing the turf for the Sydney 2000 Olympics in 36 hours, again after the Opening Ceremony and before athletics commenced.

As the new MCG shone in all its glory for the Commonwealth Games, plans were afoot to have the ground back for the ANZAC Day AFL match, one month earlier than originally planned. As a result, the program was accelerated and the turf (20,000m²) was installed over 10 days with works finishing over the Easter weekend. As sections of the track were removed, the sand was leveled and the turf was laid.

A benefit of Motz Stabilised Turf is that where a project like this one requires the turf to be installed and removed on a number of occasions it can be reused rather than scrapped thus realising significant cost savings to the project. On this occasion a saving of $826,000 was realised.

'IT'S TRUE, COLONIAL IS A WORLD-BEATER' - Herald Sun 9/7/2001

Hard to get into, windy at one end, lacking atmosphere, ground too hard… These are all criticisms that have been levelled at Colonial Stadium. The reallity is Colonial is what we were promised: one of the best sporting stadiums in the world. If you doubt that then you weren't one of the 165,000-odd who went to Colonial over the past four days. Rugby League on Thursday night with the Storm, the greatest Aussie rules side in the land on Friday night, our courageous Wallabies on Saturday evening and the Pies and Cats yesterday.

The ground looked as good yesterday as it did on Thursday and there was no talk of injuries, breezes, ques and atmosphere this time. It's an easy place to knock and not a trendy one to talk up.

'A NEW ERA FOR TURF AT COLONIAL' - SOL Press Release 11/5/2001

A three week program to replace the turf at Colonial Stadium has now been completed. The new turf is the licensed Motz system developed in the United States, which has now replaced the previous grass. The Motz system was used by several arenas during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games including the Sydney Olympic, MCG, Gabba and Bruce Stadium.

During the Olympic Games the turf met the stringent quality requirements of world soccer governing body, FIFA and SOCOG. In the past fortnight, football players and supporters alike have noted the new look at Colonial Stadium as the centre corridor and Medallion Club wings were replaced. This week saw the completion of the Access One wing. The stadium is now ready for the St Kilda versus Hawthorn clash on this Saturday night, 12th May, 2001.

'This is a great step forward for Colonial Stadium' said Ian Collins, Chief Executive Officer.

'We now have an entirely new system in place, which enables greater flexibility and reduction in timing when replacing the surface and we expect a major improvement in turf performance. Of course, we are restricted by conditions evolving from the unique design of the Stadium, but we have on site excellence in HG Turf, our turf management company.'

The turf system at Colonial Stadium will involve a rotation turf system and is likely to have several rotations during each year. 'More than 19,000sq. metres comprising of 1,270 rolls of turf delivered by 45 semi trailer loads has been laid', said Hamish Sutherland, Managing Director of HG Turf.

'The process involved more 1000 man hours, over a three week period which was spaced between the normal schedule of football matches'. 'The advantage of our system, gives Colonial Stadium tremendous flexibility' said Mr Sutherland.

'BULLS PREVAIL DESPITE BRISBANE'S BIG WET' - Herald Sun 3/2/2001

South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales were under water yesterday, but remarkably they still played cricket at the Gabba. Numerous rain stoppages were not enough to prevent the Bulls from beating Tasmania.

The deluge highlighted the extraordinary recuperative powers of the Gabba surface and quality of the ground-staff. Queensland cricket chief executive Graham Dixon said of curator Kevin Mitchell and his staff. "Their work in getting a game on tonight was absolutely first-class." The rain was the first big test of the new drainage dug below the turf when the ground was revamped to accommodate Olympic soccer last August. But there was not a puddle in sight.

It is great news for the Brisbane Lions who now know they will never play a game under water. This is in stark contrast to the remarkable match in 1999 when the Brisbane Lions confronted the Western Bulldogs on a surface that resembled a lake. It was so wet there was concern that night that someone might drown under a pack. But things have changed dramatically.

The Gabba now has a sand based surface and a state-of-the-art drainage system. But the past has not been forgotten. Beneath the surface lies the heritage-listed pipes constructed by convicts.

Historically the Gabba has always been a good drying ground. The past is littered with stories from stunned Test cricketers who had given up a day's play after a Brisbane thunderstorm, only to find themselves basking in the sunshine on a dry ground an hour later. But yesterday was a truly remarkable scene, not for the cricket, but for the fact that they were playing cricket at all.