Bell and York Recognised at Walker Park Improvements Opening

On Saturday 16th July the improvements to Walker Park Sporting Complex were officially opened by Yass Valley Mayor, Allan McGrath.

The improvements were made possible after Council secured $500,000 in funding from the Australian Government, Sport Australia -Move It AUS Community Sport Infrastructure Grant. Council contributed $50,000 to the project, with four local user groups, Yass United Rugby League Football club, Yass Touch Association, Yass Minor Rugby League and Yass Football Club, contributing a further $18,000 to the improvements.

The extensive upgrades included a new car park adjacent to the level three playing fields, upgrades to field lighting, a new official’s room, and a covered grandstand.

Yass Valley Mayor Allan McGrath said he was pleased to see the community already taking advantage of the new upgrades.

“The Walker Park sporting complex is well used and very popular amongst our local sporting groups. The improvements made to the complex will benefit all user groups and ensure that the facility can be used by our community for many years to come,” Mayor McGrath said.

Yass United Rugby League Football Club President, Tim Clayton said the club was happy to contribute to the cost of the improvements.

“We are thankful to Council for securing this grant and for consulting with us throughout the project,” Mr Clayton said.

“It is a fantastic and well utilised local sporting facility, and we always look forward to welcoming clubs from around the region to play here.”

The opening also included the celebration and acknowledgement of two local sporting icons with the unveiling of the Ken Bell and Colin ‘Yic” York Grandstand.

Yass United Rugby League Football Club put forward an application to council to officially name the newly constructed grandstand. The request to honour two significant sporting members from Yass Valley LGA by displaying each name on either side of the grandstand was approved by Council at its April 2022 meeting.

William Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bell, who was born in Yass in 1946, and whose current age is 76, is a life member of several sporting organisations and indigenous elder. He was the first Indigenous Coach of Yass Rugby League Juniors and Seniors from mid-1960s.

Colin ‘Yic’ York (1904-1973) started playing rugby league for Yass at the age of 17 which led to his career in representative football. Colin was the first international sportsman to come from Yass, and played for NSW and Australia.

• Topics:

• Public Works
• Government Grants / Funding
• Local Council