Following its successful tender for the 400m warm-up track and three squash courts from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Canterbury College has officially unveiled its exciting new facilities.
The Queensland school hopes these new sporting facilities will foster the talents of emerging sports students and encourage many more to take up sport.
The new facilities were officially opened during a ceremony on 30 January 2019, where the college community, from Kindergarten to Year 12, assembled beside the track.
More than 20,000 sports assets were distributed to schools, organisations and community groups through the Queensland Government’s GC2018 Legacy Assets program.
Head of college, Donna Anderson, said it was a proud moment for the college. She was joined at the opening by many special guests who were instrumental in securing and building the facilities.
Shannon Fentiman MP, state member for Waterford, and Glynis Nunn-Cearns OAM, Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist, helped cut the ceremonial ribbon with Mrs Anderson and college board chairman Jeff Thomas.
Ms Fentiman said it was an incredibly exciting day. “These facilities are a monumental legacy for the college and the broader Logan community.
“I hope having access to an Olympic-standard athletics track and three world-class squash courts will foster the talents of emerging sports students in the region and encourage many more to take up sport.”
Last year, Mrs Nunn-Cearns, in her roles on the Commonwealth Games committee and as the executive director of the Gold Coast Academy of Sport, was initially concerned where all the major Games sports assets would go.
“For the development of sport and a connection to the community, these facilities needed to stay within this region, and I am just so happy they now have a home at Canterbury College,” she said.
“I congratulate Canterbury College for their forward thinking in applying for the whole track and turning it into a great sporting hub on their campus, with pools and a tennis courts complex to be constructed next.
“These will create wonderful opportunities for Canterbury students and others in the local area. I hope I can come along and use the track too. Canterbury College is now definitely on the map for sport in the southeast.”
Pictured above (L-R): Donna Anderson, head of Canterbury College; Shannon Fentiman MP, state member for Waterford; Glynis Nunn-Cearns OAM, Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist; and Jeff Thomas, chairman of the board at Canterbury College.