Townsville City Council will be officially opening the Noel Wilson Oval in Oonoonba at a community barbecue this weekend.
The decision to rename the park was made at a Full Council meeting last year.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said it is fitting to name the park after Mr Wilson, who was a long serving councillor and member of the Oonoonba community.
“Mr Wilson was well known to many residents and was a councillor from 1979 until his retirement in 2000,” Cr Hill said.
“It’s great that we can honour Mr Wilson’s legacy by officially renaming the oval to the Noel Wilson Oval which serves as a tribute to his work as the driving force behind the North Queensland Sports Foundation and the NQ Games held across the northern region.”
Mr Wilson, who passed away in 2011, was first elected as part of Mayor Perc Tucker’s team known as Tucker’s 10 and a major contributor to the city’s progress.
Deputy Mayor Les Walker said a community barbecue gives the community a chance to commemorate Mr Wilson’s achievements and unveil the plaque naming the oval.
“Noel and his family are so well known in the area and he remembered fondly by those who saw how hard he fought to improve facilities for the residents,” Cr Walker said.
“I grew up in Oonoonba and I saw first-hand the results of his time as a councillor so I’m pleased I can be a part of acknowledging his contributions to the community with a barbecue and an official opening.”
Where: Oonoonba Park, Shannon St
When: 9-11am, Saturday 25 January 2020
