Bill McFarlane Park is made official

Bill McFarlane and I officially opening the Bill McFarlane Park

Last month (before the mask mandate) I had the honour of officially opening the Bill McFarlane Park in Wakerley alongside the great man himself.

It was a special day as a pivotal member of our community was forever commemorated for the work he has done that will have lasting impacts for many generations to come.

The Story of Bill McFarlane Park

Bill McFarlane played a vital role in the development of the McFarlane Field at 388 Wondall Road in the 1960s as he was personally responsible for using his own Truck Transport to collect and fill the land to ensure the field was levelled for use. This field was then utilised by the Wynnum Manly Marching Girl’s Association, of which Bill was the past president, and the Wynnum Manly Women’s Basketball Association for more than twenty years.

Bill, or “Mr Mac” as he was affectionately known by, was known to keep the grass in excellent condition and was often seen sitting atop his tractor in McFarlane Field.

Eventually, during the 1990s, this field ceased to be used by the Marching Girls’ Association and in 2007, as the group wound up, Bill so generously gifted the Association’s site at 388 Wondall Road to the Wynnum & Manly District Meals on Wheels Association.

Unfortunately, due to lack of funds at the time, Meals on Wheels reluctantly had to sell the parcel to Bunnings who started construction there in 2013.

In 2014, however, Meals on Wheels approached myself regarding obtaining 880 Manly Road as a site for their new facility and in August last year I had the honour of officially opening the Wakerley District Sports Park, now named the Bill McFarlane Park.

More information on Mr McFarlane and the site’s history can be found in my previous article here.

Without the generosity of Bill McFarlane gifting the original Wondall Road land to Meals on Wheels and his push for the land transfer, the development of this important community and sports facility would not have been possible.

It is only fitting that this new sports park was named in his honour to forever commemorate the great legacy that he has established in our community.

Thank you

I would like to thank Meals on Wheels for their successful efforts in the $7.2 million project and their continual work for the public.

Many thanks as well to Ken and Irene Edwards for their assistance throughout the course of 880 Manly Road becoming Meals on Wheels’ site. A special thanks to Irene Edwards OAM who sadly passed a couple months ago. Irene was a valuable member of our community and her service will not be forgotten.

Thank you as well to everyone who made this moment possible, especially Bill’s family, for providing continual support and information throughout this process.

And finally, thank you, once again, to the man himself: Bill McFarlane. You are a great man who is most worthy of this honour.