Since it first opened in 2009 the Gary Radford Pavilion has hosted just about every event imaginable, and this year’s St Pats race meeting marks 15 years since the pavilion was first used.
Be it a wedding, funeral, fundraiser, trivia night, 50th birthday, science fair, or a first birthday party, the pavilion has seen it all.
The function centre at the racecourse can accommodate over 1000 people and has been a huge addition to Broken Hill.
The origin of how it all came about and why is sometimes lost and may at times be taken for granted.
It was the brainchild of Gary Radford, a man of vision and passion for Broken Hill.
On a cold June evening in 2006 at a local restaurant Gary and wife Kaye were having dinner with members of the St Pat’s Race Club.
Over fried rice and honey chicken the soaring cost of hiring marquees for race day was mentioned.
“I can solve that,” said Gary, “I’ll build a shed.”
“It was a simple as that,” said former St Pat’s Race Club President Margaret Corradini.
When Gary pledged to kick in $100,000 from his family the wheels were in motion.
“He even went into the toilet and wrote on a piece of toilet paper his commitment,” Mrs Corradini said.
That toilet paper contract is now framed and hangs in the St Pat’s office.
On the back of the Chinese meal, funding and support also came from Council and the state government and was further boosted by additional contributions from the Radford Family.
The business community also contributed with support from the Broken Hill Community Credit Union and Foundation Broken Hill.
Since it was first used at the St Pat’s race meeting in 2009 people have had the luxury of an air-conditioned venue.
For race day pavilion convenor Pauline Rowlands, it was a dream come true.
“In the marquees we battled heat, dust, flies, and the occasional storm but now we can set up and know our patrons will have a wonderful experience on race day.”
“It’s not only St Pat’s,” Mrs Corradini said, “Gary wanted the pavilion to be used as a community facility for everyone to utilise and enjoy.
According to Regional Event Centre Trust Chairperson Cheryl Krutli over 100,000 people have used the centre.
“It is the largest open space structure in regional New South Wales and the Pavilion suits a wide variety of event types,” she said.
“The Pavilion is equipped with a kitchen and internal cool room and the Trust has just installed two new air conditioner units at a cost of $65,000.”
The units were completed with support from Lawrence Engineering and Foundation Broken Hill.
What Gary Radford started over 15 years ago at a local Chinese restaurant continues today.
“The community owes Gary a huge debt of gratitude,” Mrs Corradini said.
