A crowd of around 50 attended the brief but effective ‘official’ opening of Gracie Canavan Recreational Park this morning. The vast majority of people in attendance were friends and relatives of the Canavan and Gracie families.

The weather was perfect, it was sunny and warm.

Cr Rick Baberowski was the MC for the opening.

BeCA President Les Thomas outlined BeCA’s submission to have the park named Canavan Gracie Recreational Park.

Laurie Gracie expressed her sincere thanks to BeCA for seeing fit to honour her husband in naming the park.  It would be a permanent reminder to a two wonderful people who had given so much to the Sunshine Coast.  Jo English then spoke on behalf of the June Canavan Foundation and expressed the deep thanks of the Foundation in naming the park after June Canavan.

BeCA presented both of them with a pictorial reminder of the park which had been prepared by BeCA Secretary, Debye O’Reilly.

Finally there was a “Free Tree” Day with free plants available to everyone.

The photo shows (from the left) Les Thomas BeCA President, Jo English from the June Canavan Foundation, Laurie Gracie and local Division One Councillor Rick Baberowski as the ribbon is cut to officially ‘open’ the park.

After the brief Opening Ceremony, guests lingered and shared stories and memories. The Sunshine Coast Daily was in attendance and took a photo of the whole group gathered around the park sign for publication in the Sunshine Coast Daily. You can see the full article and photo below

Click on the photo for a larger view.

After the ceremony, several members of the June Canavan Foundation enjoyed a picnic lunch together in the newly named park.

To follow the link to the ‘shortened’ Sunshine Coast Daily Article, click HERE.

Or click on the photo below for a larger view of the full article.