FORMER Albury sporting identity Les O’Brien will have a venue where he spent more than 50 years training youth athletes named in his honour.
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After a protracted journey, Albury Council’s community and cultural committee has recommended the Alexandra Park’s athletics venue be named after Mr O’Brien, who died last year.
The council will rubber-stamp the unanimous recommendation of the committee next week.
The naming of the roadway into Alexandra Park and a still to be built terraced seating area were previously put forward as options to recognise Mr O’Brien.
Mayor Kevin Mack said the support for the re-naming of the athletics venue option couldn’t be ignored.
“We’ve been through this process a couple of times and I do commend the community for getting involved in this particular issue,” he said.
“The community feels very strongly about the people in our community who work really hard to support their communities of interest and go above and beyond.
“Les O’Brien’s legacy has been that, he has gone above and beyond.
Les O’Brien’s legacy has been that, he has gone above and beyond
- Mayor Kevin Mack
“The family has made great representation to myself and other staff members.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to pull this thing together and the community has spoken.”
The change only requires the resolution of council to become reality.
Triple Brownlow medallist Haydn Bunton had the North Albury Football-Netball Club’s homeground named in his honour.
Cr Henk van de Ven opposed the proposed re-naming option of Les O’Brien Athletics Complex with Les O’Brien Athletics Precinct being agreed to.
Council staff will also come up with a policy for naming reserves and facilities in Albury.
No date has been set for the re-naming ceremony to take place.
Mr O’Brien was also heavily involved in Australian Rules football and soccer, but athletics was his main passion as both competitor and coach.
He won races at the famed Stawell Gift carnival.