{"id":250424,"date":"2019-12-17T23:26:46","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T13:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=250424"},"modified":"2020-07-13T17:30:51","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T07:30:51","slug":"equestrian-centre-honours-a-top-bloke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/12\/17\/equestrian-centre-honours-a-top-bloke\/","title":{"rendered":"Equestrian Centre Honours ‘A Top Bloke’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gympie mayor Mick Curran with Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe at the official opening of the Vern Berry Building at the Kilkivan Showgrounds and Equestrian Centre on Saturday afternoon
(Photo: GRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 17, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kilkivan’s long-awaited $2.06 million undercover equestrian centre was officially opened on Saturday at Kilkivan Showgrounds.<\/p>\n

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Gympie Mayor Mick Curran performed the ceremony as part of a tour through the region by the Minister.<\/p>\n

A small crowd gathered to watch the ceremony and then enjoy the first event, a barrel-racing competition featuring local riders.<\/p>\n

Mr Hinchliffe said the equestrian centre was made possible through a State Government allocation of $1.075 million from the 2017-19\u00a0Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP).<\/p>\n

Gympie Regional Council covered the rest of the cost.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe centre will serve the community for years, and the work on it created or supported almost 20 jobs,” Mr Hinchliffe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exactly the type of project the LGGSP helps councils deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the barrel racing, another small ceremony was held to officially name the main building within the complex as the “Vern Berry Building”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local councillor Hilary Smerdon lobbied for the name to recognise a well-known Kilkivan volunteer who\u00a0died unexpectedly after a short illness earlier this year at the age of 60.<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon said Vern had spent most of his life in the area and was \u201ca very committed, community-minded man\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout his support a lot of the local community organisations would have folded,\u201d Cr Smerdon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was involved in nearly every committee at the showgrounds over the years, and always went above and beyond what was expected.”<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon was asked to gather letters of support from the community for the proposal, and when these were presented, Council voted to adopt the name.<\/p>\n

“He was a man who was the epitome of community spirit and who is sorely missed by the Kilkivan community,” Cr Smerdon said.<\/p>\n

“Rest in peace, mate, you were a top bloke.”<\/p>\n

Construction of the Equestrian Centre began in April this year, and it was originally due to be\u00a0opened in September in conjunction with this year\u2019s Kilkivan Great Horse Ride.<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon told southburnett.com.au<\/strong>\u00a0he was happy the centre was now open and named, but it still needed “finishing off”.<\/p>\n

He said yards, seating, a canteen and bar were really needed to complete the complex.<\/p>\n

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