Published on Monday, 4 July 2022 at 8:57:00 AM
Katherine’s new sports pavilion will be named the Katherine and Big Rivers Community, Sport and Recreation Venue.
“Incorporating Big Rivers in the name was important as this will help when we apply for grant funding, as this facility also services the greater region surrounding Katherine,” Katherine Town Council Mayor Elisabeth Clark said.
Following community feedback on names, Katherine elected members were presented with two options at the council meeting on Tuesday June 28: the Katherine Big Rivers Sport and Recreation Venue or Katherine Sports and Recreation - Centre of the Big Rivers.
Councillor Kingdom moved to add a third option, Katherine Community Sports Centre, which was seconded by Councillor Herdon. Deputy Mayor Henderson requested a motion that the first choice be amended to Katherine Big Rivers Community Sport and Recreation Venue, which was seconded by Councillor Coburn.
Deputy Mayor Henderson’s suggestion received five votes, while Katherine Sports and Recreation – Centre of the Big Rivers received one, and Cr. Kingdon voted for her suggestion.
“It’s difficult to choose a name as everyone has different opinions,” Mayor Clark said. “We decided to go for a generic name rather than a person as there are so many people that would be worthy of it because of their contribution to sports in Katherine.”
The previous building (now demolished) was named the Don Dale Building after Donald Francis Dale, the Country Liberal Party member for Wanguri in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1983 to 1989. That building was built in 1989 and was a major milestone for the sportsground.
In recent times the name Don Dale has become synonymous with the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, a Northern Territory juvenile detention facility that was the subject of a Royal Commission.
Katherine’s much anticipated new building will be a major step up, with an air-conditioned kitchen and function space, covered outdoor spectator area, modern changerooms, offices and five storage rooms.
The new community sports centre will have a soft opening later in the year before its official opening on Monday, 12 September.
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