Two Blues home ground, Eric Tweedale Stadium, to open at Granville Park
A $10 million stadium in western Sydney will soon be named after the country’s oldest living Wallaby, who grew up playing on its turf, and coincide with his 100th birthday celebrations.
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Australia’s oldest Wallaby Eric Tweedale once showcased his fledgling talent on its turf and now a stadium at Granville Park’s new stadium at Merrylands will be named after the World War II veteran who celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday.
The stadium, which is the Parramatta Two Blues homeground, is undergoing an overhaul and will be officially named the Eric Tweedale Stadium on May 14, which will also double as the British-born athlete’s 100th birthday party at Merrylands RSL Club.
Cumberland councillor Greg Cummings suggested the stadium be named after Tweedale at a meeting last year, when he told of how the former Wallaby boasted about being a “GPS boy’’ but, instead of the exclusive group Great Public Schools, he was proud to say he was a Guildford Public School student who grew up in Mary St, Merrylands, when it was a rural community.
He joined Parramatta Rugby Union Club, now known as the Western Sydney Two Blues, when he was 15 and quickly emerged as a standout player, making first grade after just two seasons.
When World War II started, Tweedale served as a signalman in the South Pacific for the Royal Australian Navy and returned to Australia in 1945 to make his NSW debut.
And later the prop represented Australia alongside Parramatta teammates Ken Kearney and Len Wolfe.
“He went on to play 10 Tests for Australia and he was also instrumental in starting junior rugby union throughout the area in the late 1950s and early 1960s,’’ Cr Cummings said.
“He’s always been a strong supporter of that sport, but all sport in general.’’
After retiring from international rugby, he developed the sport in Forbes and Parkes, helped form Parramatta District Junior Rugby Union and was the president of Merrylands Junior Rugby Union.
The former Shell employee lived in North Rocks where he bought a Shell service station with
his son-in-law Bob Smith on Pennant Hills Rd before retiring on the Central Coast in 1990.
Cumberland Council’s Granville Park upgrade includes a $2.74 million grant from the state government.
Construction on the 760-seat grandstand began in June and is due to be completed in July, with a function room and commercial kitchen, new players and referee change rooms, a multipurpose room and gym, administration room, canteen and lift access.
Cumberland is now known as rugby league heartland but is one of Australia’s oldest rugby districts, beginning as early as 1879.
Two Blues general manager Craig Morgan welcomed the naming of the stadium.
“The naming of the stadium after Eric is a wonderful acknowledgment of a true gentlemen whose contribution to the community and the game of rugby is significant,’’ he said.
“The facility is looking magnificent and will be a great new home for the Two Blues and a real feature for the local community.’’
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