In less than 20 years Raby Sport Complex has been transformed from a humble oval with a small canteen and a pit for a barbecue to one of the best cricket facilities in Sydney and NSW.
On Saturday, no less a luminary than Morris Iemma described Raby as “the premier cricket facility after SCG and maybe North Sydney Oval’’.
The former NSW premier was speaking at the official opening of the Allan Connolly Pavillion, the newest amenities building at Raby Sports Complex.
Mr Iemma, who is the president of the Campbellown Camden Ghosts cricket club, said the amenities building, the newly erected white picket fence around the number two oval, flag poles, scoreboards and many other features at Raby would not be there if it hadn’t been for Allan Connolly.
“Nothing’s happened here without the involvement of Allan Connolly,’’ Mr Iemma said.
“It is fitting that this building is being named after him because Allan drove the project, put in endless hours at council, following up, countless hours pouring over the plans to make sure the drawings were right; the doors were in the right location.
“Allan played cricket, his kids played, then he went into administration and volunteering and that’s where he’s gone above and beyond the call of duty to put back into a club he loves with a passion.
“No club can survive without the likes of Allan Connolly.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Allan has redefined what volunteerism means for a community organisation.[/social_quote]
“Thank you, Allan, for your lifetime of devotion to this club,’’ Mr Iemma said.
In response, a humbled Allan Connolly said “it was not an honour I’ve ever expected’’.
But not that humbled he couldn’t see the funny side of being one of the few people in Campbelltown to have something named after him while being alive.
“I thought council policy was to name things after those who have died, so I have sent a message back to council to say that I’m still alive,’’ he said.
The Ghosts have been going for 35 years and Allan Connolly has been there for most of them in one capacity or another, from volunteer to president, club delegate to the NSW Cricket Board to serving on numerous committee positions.
He is also a life member of the club.
“The whole purpose of what we do here in making it a great facility is to create an opportunity,’’ he said.
“An opportunity for young people, regardless of their ability at the time, to be better people and better cricketers
“And that’s what makes better citizens in the long run.
“You’re not doing it for yourself, you’re not doing it for your child, you’re doing it for no other reason other than to create an opportunity.’’
Two local MPs – Greg Warren and Anoulack Chanthivong – were present for the ceremony, as well as representatives of club sponsors, including directors from Wests Group Macarthur and Macarthur Engineering’s Julie and Kevin O’Keefe.
Deputy mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Darcy Lound, represented the council.
Congratulations to all at the club and I agree Raby is a great complex and credit to the club and Council