Howzat! What an innings...

As the first Ashes Test gets underway today, we shine a light on the Moreton Bay-based family business which has been supplying leather used in Kookaburra cricket balls for more than 15 years.

Since teaming up with Kookaburra, Narangba’s Packer Leather has provided the materials used to make 10 million cricket balls bowled in matches and backyards across the world.

Moreton Bay City Council Mayor Peter Flannery says Packer Leather, which has been in business for more than 130 years, has made a significant contribution to Australian sport.

“Without the opportunity to move their business to Narangba in 1972, cricket wouldn't exist how we know it,” Mayor Flannery says.

“While cricket is known for the traditional red ball, Packer Leather were instrumental assisting Kookaburra with the bright pink ball that has revolutionised the game. Day-night test matches are now possible because the pink ball stays clearly visible both in daylight and under floodlights.

Packer Leather Director and Chairman Lindsay Packer says the business is playing a role in supporting Australian sport and the Moreton Bay community.

“It is rewarding knowing our leather ends up in Kookaburra balls that Australians use to bowl, bat and field across the country,” he says.

“Our team’s hard work goes into every bit of leather we work with and it’s exciting to know it’s making its way into someone’s favourite cricket match or backyard game,” Lindsay says.

Proud connection

A keen sportsman himself, Lindsay represented Queensland in AFL as a schoolboy, just as his son Dave did 30 years later - a connection that’s come full circle through the company’s partnership with Sherrin.

“We’ve been providing leather for Sherrin footballs for more than 15 years now and were excited to bring another sporting code into our ‘team’. We’re known to push the boundaries for leather production, and working with Sherrin has allowed us to do that,” Lindsay says.

“Our process combines generations of craftsmanship mixed with modern innovation, and it’s what gives each Kookaburra and Sherrin ball its distinctive feel and performance.”

Packer Leather General Manager and Technical Director Andrew Luke is leading innovation and quality across the company’s product range.

“Our role is to make sure every piece of leather meets the highest standards, whether it’s destined for an elite sporting field or one of the many other industries we supply,” Luke says.

“That means we’re constantly testing, refining and innovating to not just meet expectations, but to set new benchmarks for leather products.

“When we see a Sherrin soaring through the air or a Kookaburra spinning down the pitch, it’s a reminder that a piece of Moreton Bay is right there in the action.”

Manufacturing hub

Mayor Flannery says the City of Moreton Bay “is proving to be a destination of choice for manufacturers due to our population growth, proximity to Brisbane Airport and various shipping ports, productive industrial precincts and collaborative business ecosystem”.

“We're innovators and makers at scale, producing countless items which Australians use every day, like the hi-tech electronics that cook your supermarket roast chooks or the equipment keeping you safe on our roads.

“We’re committed to building a bigger, bolder and brighter future for our city by supporting our local manufacturers. Packer Leather is one of the businesses leading the way by boosting jobs and strengthening our local economy.”