Riverway Stadium grandstand renamed to honour Andrew Symonds

The Andrew Symonds name will live on in North Queensland following the official renaming of the grandstand at Riverway Stadium in honour of the cricketing great.

The Symonds family came together at the Townsville stadium for an intimate gathering to unveil the newly-renamed Andrew ‘Roy’ Symonds Grandstand.

Children Chloe, 10, and Will, 8, were joined by their grandmother Barbara Symonds, mother Laura Vidmar and aunt Louise Symonds at the stadium on Friday.

Chloe said the grandstand was the “perfect tribute” for her dad.

“I loved to go to the park and play with him, and then we’d come here (Riverway) and play in the nets. He loved teaching Will about cricket too, so he’d teach Will a lot and I’d throw the balls,” she said.

“Thank you so much for naming the grandstand after him. It feels like he’s going to be loved from every direction, like he’s going to be loved by everyone.”

Mrs Barbara Symonds said Andrew would be “so honoured” by the renaming.

“I know how much Andrew loved the North, but home was Townsville … and in that way I think it’s very special that Townsville has honoured him in naming the grandstand after him,” Mrs Symonds said.

“I know the loss will never go away, particularly for me, because I lost my husband two years earlier. I’d have given everything to have him standing beside me when this happened. Now I’ve lost two men in my family, and I can’t say it’s easy, but it’s lovely that things like this happen and that we can celebrate his life.

“I feel that Andrew was looked up and he did something for these young people, and hopefully his legacy will carry on in that way.”

The Andrew ‘Roy’ Symonds Grandstand renaming was endorsed by the City of Townsville at the September Ordinary Council meeting.

Mayor Jenny Hill said it was a fitting tribute for the community-focused sports star.

“Roy was a proud North Queenslander who gave back to the Townsville community through charity and his involvement in junior sports. He was also a great friend to many people and would light up any room he was in,” Cr Hill said.

“Roy’s passing has been a tragic loss to our community, and I know his absence is felt far and wide across the country. I sincerely want to thank Roy’s wife Laura, their children and his family for their support of the proposal.”

Riverway Stadium hosted its first one-day international series between Australia and Zimbabwe last month, which held a tribute featuring a handful of items that summed up the north Queensland outdoorsman: his crab pot, Akubra and fishing rod.

The popular all-rounder who tragically died in a car accident near Townsville on May 14. He played 26 tests for Australia and won two one-day World Cups.

Townsville City Council will erect a permanent cyclone-proof sign for the grandstand after community consultation.