mmg.com.au

The Carter Cup, a 73-year-old trophy presented to the victorious Echuca Colts cricket team on April 20, 1940, is soon to be on show at Echuca Historical Society.

The cup will join a host of other antiques from Carters of Echuca, like the famous sign, when the business closes its doors.

The trophy reared its head when a woman came across the antique and made contact with Carters of Echuca owner, John Carter.

‘‘A lady rang me from Adelaide and said, ‘Look, I’ve picked up this silver cricket trophy in an antique shop in Adelaide. Would you like it?’,’’ Carter said.

‘‘I said, ‘Yeah, that would be fantastic.’ So she sent it back to me and I’ve had it ever since.’’

That was six years ago and the trophy has lived at Carter’s business since.

He said the trophy would have been presented by his grandfather, Gordon Carter, almost a year after he started the business on April 29, 1939.

‘‘I think it’s a great trophy and it’s fantastic for the lady to have rung,’’ Carter said.

The cup was presented when the Colts defeated Echuca United by 91 runs in the Echuca Matting Association final in a match which spanned four weekends.

Carter said he had no idea how the trophy made its way across the state border, but assumed it might have been bought at a local auction by an antique dealer.

He said he preferred the cup to be in the museum where everyone could see it for generations to come.