Local sporting icons recognised at Walker Park improvements opening

Local sporting icons recognised at Walker Park improvements opening

The Walker Park Sporting Complex Improvements was  officially opened on Saturday by Yass Valley Mayor, Allan McGrath.

The complex upgrades 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 generously contributing a further $18,000 to the improvements.

The extensive upgrades included a new carpark 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,” Mayor McGrath said.

“The improvements made to the complex will benefit all user groups and ensures that the facility can be used by our community for many years to come.”

Yass United Rugby League Football club, Yass Touch Association, Yass Minor Rugby League and Yass Football club were the four user groups of the Walker Park complex that contributed financially to the project.

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. 

Cr McGrath said the application put forward by the club was an easy one for Council to endorse.

“It’s great to see the new grandstand at Walker Park completed and it’s important that it’s given an appropriate name to inspire future sporting generations who use the facilities.” Mr McGrath said. 

The opening also included the unveiling of two citation signs that are now permanently secured to the grandstand. The citations give visitors and locals an insight into both men and the significant contribution they have made to sport in the Yass Valley.

Information on Ken Bell and Colin ‘Yic’ York Colin ‘Yic’ York – Born in Yass - 1904-1973 (Age 69), started playing rugby league for Yass at the age of 17 which lead to his career in representative football. Colin was the first international sportsman to come from Yass. Played for NSW and Australia.

Colin ‘Yic’ York was the first ever international sportsman to hail from the town. In April 1928, Colin was packing down in the front row for Yass at Victoria Park in front of a few hundred spectators a complete unknown. Two short months later, Colin was packing down in the front row for Australia in front of 48,000 people at the packed Brisbane Exhibition Grounds in the first test against England.

William Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bell – Born in Yass - 10 October 1946 – Present (Age 76), 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.

When Ken became the President of the Boys Club, it was a time when racial tensions were still running very high. For a young Indigenous man like Ken to take on the role in the first place was brave. For him to stay in the job for 12 years, overseeing the growth of the club, was testament to the man himself.

3 2022

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