WE’RE ALL FAMILY… Family members of Wes Cheney at the opening of the refurbished pavilion at Woodward Oval were: At the back Ian Cowle, Andrew White and Graeme Cheney. Middle: Janell Cheney, Janine Boschman, Helen Kenyon and Annie Burke. Front seated: Loris White and Vivienne Cunningham and sitting on the ground is Ella Burke.
Family members, cricket players, supporters and officials gathered at the Woodward Oval last Saturday for the official opening of the restored 61-year-old Wes Cheney Pavilion.
“It is wonderful to see so many of Wes Cheney’s family here today,” said Parkes Mayor Ken Keith OAM. He remembered Wes as a very humble man who never talked about all he did for sport in Parkes.
Master of Ceremonies Michael Greenwood called Wes a real Trojan who volunteered so much of his time in providing and maintaining recreation facilities in Parkes and was instrumental in the formation of the Parkes Sports Council, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The pavilion was named after the late Wesley Berry Cheney in 2015 in recognition of his herculean voluntary contribution to the Shire’s sporting community.
The $297,000 amenities upgrade, thanks to a collaboration of local and state government and sporting associations, included the replacement of all the internal and external walls and floors, renailing of roofing iron, installation of a new kitchen, upgrades to the change and shower rooms, as well as the construction of a new unisex toilet. A new awning and retaining wall were also constructed as part of the project.
“This will ensure the ongoing attraction of local, regional and state cricket fixtures, as well as inclusive community participation in sport for both males and female players,” said the Mayor.
The upgrade was funded in partnership by the NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund ($100,000), Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund ($50,000), Parkes Shire Council ($142,000) and Parkes & District Cricket Association ($5,000).
Matt Ellis from Cricket NSW said: “I am so happy this facility is here to help grow the game of cricket.”
For Dan Gordon, representing senior cricket in Parkes, the new lights at the Woodward Oval makes it magical to play at the oval, but the addition of the upgraded pavilion is “the cherry on top”.
Currently, the Wes Cheney Pavilion is home to 250 senior and 220 junior registered cricket players.