A tired looking grandstand has been given a new lease of life following a makeover by Great Lakes Council (GLC).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The grandstand was built in 1924 and is a registered with the Australian War Memorial in Canberra as a World War 1 memorial.
There are two plaques on the front entrance of the steps with the names of all the Stroud area men who fought in the first World War.
Councillor Karen Hutchinson said GLC initially funded $65,000 to upgrade the grandstand.
“It was looking very tired and staff recognised they had to preserve this very special monument,” she said.
“All the weatherboard around the building was replaced with material to match the existing profile of the building.
“The seating was also replaced and user groups funded three double doors downstairs to make it easier for access.
“We were a bit short of money to finish the project and I had to grovel for another $20,000 to complete the job,” she laughed.
“But they could see the benefits in competing upgrading this beautiful structure and were happy to come to the party.”
The tender was won by local building firm owned by James Harris, who is also Stroud Show president and chair of the showground management committee.
“The first show was held in 1921 and 150 pounds was raised,” Mr Harris said.
“That was a lot of money in those days and they used it to build the grandstand.
“The grandstand is the showpiece of the showground which is well utilised all year round.
“We sourced blackbutt timber locally to use for the seating and the secret is to keep the oil up to it.
“We also had to replace two posts which weighed 400 kilograms each which was a massive exercise.”
The showground user groups, including soccer, cricket, football, show, rodeo, Lions, pony clubs and brickthrowing committee, meet four times a year with David Bortfeld from GLC.
“We all get on well and there is also a group of girls looking at doing a bootcamp on the grounds too,” Mr Harris said.
“We are trying to raise enough funds to create a ball ground on the current pony club grounds.
“This weekend there will be over 1000 horses over the two days and the footballers then want to play on the ground the following weekend.
“While we try and leave the ground is perfect order, it is not always possible with that many animals cuttings up the ground.
“It is becoming a safety issue and it would be good to have another ground nearby to use for ball sports.
“We are at the DA [development application] stage and we have a plan of management with a grant put together from a Duralie [coal mine] grant.”
Mr Harris said there is a lot of good community spirit in Stroud and the ground is in “perfect condition” for this weekend’s show.
A special Anzac Day service will be held at the show on Friday.
At 11am all activity at the showground will stop for a brief ceremony.
The show will be officially opened just after the ceremony where the 2014 Miss Stroud Showgirl will be announced.
Two local girls, Emily Steel-Ryan and Erin Pritchard, nominated for the title and judging took place last month.