It should not be up to locals to fund Kerrin McEvoy statue in Streaky Bay
AS Streaky Bay plans to build a bronze statue of racing’s golden boy Kerrin McEvoy — his dad Phil has volunteered as “polisher” to keep the pigeon poo off his boy.
- Counter has our Kerrin with legends on three Cup wins
- Godolphin finally breaks through
- What every jockey said after the Cup
- Why The Cliffsofmoher couldn’t be saved
AS Streaky Bay plans to build a bronze statue of racing’s golden boy Kerrin McEvoy – his dad Phil has volunteered to be the “polisher” by removing all the bird poo.
“I’ll get down there very early in the morning when no one will see me, I’ll give you the tip,” quipped Phil. “I’ve got to be the polisher, keep the bird poo off. I’ll be the man for that, I’ll put my hand up.”
Fundraising has already started for a life-size sculpture of arguably South Australia’s greatest jockey, complete with a saddle and riding gear, pictured.
Phil McEvoy believes it will help put Kerrin’s hometown firmly on the map.
“We are going ahead with that, it is going to be fantastic,” Phil said. “It’s well deserved.”
“Schoolmates have always said when he comes home he is the same as they knew him. He has achieved a great lot of things since coming from a little town called Streaky Bay.”
The Streaky Bay Racing Club and local community in the state’s west have raised $5681 of the overall cost of $120,000.
The sculpture would take pride of place on the foreshore lawn near the town’s hotel.
Donations are through the Australian Sports Foundation, and are tax deductible.
“Australia is a nation that honours our heroes in the form of statues, and in Streaky Bay this is exactly what the community would like to do, said a racing club spokesman.
“To honour our hometown hero Kerrin McEvoy for his outstanding contribution to thoroughbred racing in Australia and internationally.”
The club says a statue it will “create a point of interest for both locals and visitors” and serve as a monument of pride within the town.
But Streaky Bay Racing Club secretary John Rumbelow said it was a joke that a bush club has to drive the project.
“If the racing industry, local or state governments can’t fund an obvious project like this – possibly in conjunction with a benefactor – something is seriously wrong,” he said. “It should not be up to average punters like you or me to fund.”
Mr Rumbelow said a statue would be a fitting tribute to a “marvellous fella”.
“He must be up there with the best Australian jockeys.
“When Kerrin comes back here he’s still the same, comes to the front bar and no big head or anything. It might take a bit of time to raise the money.”
There is no hotter hoop in the world now than 38-year-old McEvoy, who won his third Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, when he rode the Godolphin horse Cross Counter to victory. It followed his back-to-back victories in the world’s richest turf race, the $13m The Everest. Add a Caulfield Cup, and big race wins in Dubai, UK, and Hong Kong.
Yesterday was all about family time for the McEvoys’.
Phil met up with Kerrin and spent time with his grandkids. It was a special day for the youngest of Kerrin’s four children Eva, who turned two.