The member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, is calling on Campbelltown City Council to rename the netball complex at Coronation Park, Minto in honour of the late Shirley Connolly.
Mr Chanthivong has written to Mayor of Campbelltown George Greiss proposing that the complex be renamed Shirley Connolly Coronation Park Netball Complex as a permanent tribute to the netball stalwart and much-loved community volunteer.
Ms Connolly, who sadly passed away this month at the age of 87, was the driving force behind Campbelltown District Netball Association for the last 30 years.
Ms Connolly was instrumental in advocating for the expansion and enhancement of the netball courts and facilities at Coronation Park in Minto.
The facility is rated one of the best in NSW and hosts netball competitions at local and State level.
In 2021 Shirley Connolly received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) honour for her services to netball in Campbelltown.
Ms Connolly was also recognised by both Campbelltown City Council and Netball NSW for her contributions to netball.
“The new name would be a fitting tribute to Ms Connolly, who was a giant of netball in Campbelltown, Macarthur and across NSW,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“It would honour Ms Connolly’s dedication to the sport and provide an enduring legacy for her valuable contributions to netball in Campbelltown and Macarthur.
“It would also ensure that Ms Connolly’s contributions to the local netball community live on in the hearts and minds of future generations of netballers in Campbelltown and Macarthur.
“I urge Council to consider my proposal to rename the Minto netball complex in honour of Ms Connolly and in doing so pay tribute to a remarkable member of our community,” he said.
Councillor Darcy Lound has come out in support of the proposal from Mr Chanthivong.
Cr Lound, who paid a tribute to Shirley Connolly at last week’s council meeting, said it was a great idea.
“Shirley Connolly put so much into netball in Campbelltown this would be a fitting tribute to such a legend,’’ Cr Lound said on Saturday at Coronation Park.
The proposal of naming Coronation Park after Shirley Connolly is so appropriate and so warranted. Shirley was the driving force behind netball in the Campbelltown and Macarthur area making it the great complex it is today. Shirley’s dedication to the sport of Netball is second to none. I’m sure all members of all clubs in the Campbelltown District Netball Association and community would love to see this endorsement.