Fourteen years ago the people of Maitland rallied to raise almost $100,000 to erect a statue of one of the city’s favourite sporting sons.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That statue, of boxing legend Les Darcy, proudly stands in King Edward Park at East Maitland.
Thousands of people see it daily as they commute along the New England Highway or visit the nearby East Maitland Bowling Club.
It took the Les Darcy Committee four years of hard work to raise the money – with large chunks of it coming in the form of community donations.
Now the community is being asked to help once again, this time for a city icon – the Maitland Showground grandstand.
The historic structure has been in a state of disrepair for several years and the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which is
responsible for the upkeep of
showground, needs about $570,000 to carry out repairs.
In a positive sign from Maitland MP Robyn Parker there is now every indication the state government would match the society dollar for dollar if it was able to raise half of the money needed.
That’s a huge ask, but as history shows we are a community that steps up and delivers when needed.
The grandstand is an integral part of our community, a place from which we watch ring events and fireworks at the annual show, the runners at the weekly greyhound races and a host of other events.
Maitland deserves to have a grandstand able to hold large crowds for major social and sporting events.
The visiting Great Moscow Circus helped kick-start the appeal for the grandstand repairs with $7500.
That leaves $277,500 – so please give generously.