Jake Kennett Allan Skinner grandstand officially named at Wingham
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SportsTranscript
00:00 The Wingham Sporting Complex, now known as Regional Australia Bank Stadium, was officially opened in 1977.
00:07 And of course it's been the Wingham Tigers home ground ever since.
00:11 During the past 47 years, many, many hours of volunteer work has kept the ground and amenities up to scratch.
00:18 In the past four or five years we have been fortunate to obtain some funding from both State and Federal Government.
00:25 And as you can see we've been able to construct a new canteen, new fencing and significant upgrades to our dressing sheds.
00:33 We've also extended the grandstand out and with the final chapter of the book, for now anyway, is the completion of the full roof on the grandstand.
00:42 With this work finally all complete, I went to the committee, or the committee together, and suggested that it was time to name the grandstand.
00:53 And why not? Our club is now over 100 years old and we need to acknowledge those who have contributed so much to our great club.
01:05 I actually feel quite privileged to be able to do this because there is a grandstanding tahrir named after my father, which I am extremely proud of.
01:14 So the task began. Names were tossed around, but in the end two names, as they say, rose to the top.
01:24 Then they had to make a decision which way to go. It was an extremely difficult decision, but in the end everyone agreed that why can't we name the grandstand after two of Wingham's finest.
01:37 I've got to say, these two blokes had reputations of hard-headed, rough and tough, bull-headed front rowers that tormented opposition forwards in their time.
01:49 You would not see two kinder, gentler or greater blokes than these two.
01:54 It gives me great pleasure if we could bring forward to the front of the grandstand here, Mr Jake Kennett and Alan Skinner, so we can unveil the sign.
02:05 [Applause]
02:18 Look at this up here. Ah, bloody wonderful.
02:22 [Laughter]
02:26 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I've had a lot of proud moments in rugby league.
02:34 Sixty-six years with the Wingham Club in one form or another.
02:38 I've met a lot of great people, played with a lot of great people. Some passed, unfortunately.
02:45 Some are still here, including the old mate Jake Kennett.
02:49 But to the Wingham Club, I'd just like to say thank you very much for everybody that's served within the shape or form with Wingham.
02:58 It's been a great club for me. I've had a lot of great times.
03:02 We've won a few premierships, we've lost a few, lost a townhouse and a few occasions.
03:08 But the club to me has been a wonderful second home.
03:13 I have nothing to complain about my treatment with the club, and I thank all those people I've been involved with for those 65 years.
03:23 And the current committee, I thank you very much for this honour, and it isn't very long.
03:29 I've had many proud moments with Wingham, and this I'd say would top them all.
03:35 So thank you very much, and congratulations to my old friend Jake.
03:39 Thank you everybody.
03:41 [applause]
03:42 [no audio]