Willaston Oval - Elliot Goodger Memorial Park
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Town or Locality: | Willaston |
Willaston Oval (Elliot Goodger Memorial Park)
In December 1961 the Department of the Interior auctioned 23 acres of land in Willaston, where during World War II, the RAAF had temporary accommodation. This was also the land where the Willaston Migrant Hostel had been established. The Gawler Council (then known as the Corporation of Gawler) purchased this land, including the Sergeants Mess, Dining Hall and Wash Block. The cost was £6169-5-0.
The Willaston Football Club was granted use of the dining hall in 1963.This was developed into club rooms. On the 26 October 1973 Willaston played their first game of football on their newly developed home ground. The oval was developed with the use of the RED Scheme (Regional Employment Development). This was a federal government emergency scheme to assist with local unemployment .The government paid contractors to use local unemployed to work on projects. It would have been hard work. There is talk of ten men with wheelbarrows employed to move tonnes of dirt, and by the end of the week, only one or two men were left. Over time, the 23 acres were developed into a sporting and recreational complex, including football ground and netball courts.
Named the Elliot Goodger Memorial Park, the official opening was on the 27th March 1977. Goodger was born in Willaston, and was twice mayor of Gawler- from 1952 to 1958 and 1960 to 1968.
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