Park a tribute to Lester's work
IF YOU'VE ever set foot in Morgan Park, chances are you have witnessed the handy work of Lester Milward.
For more than 30 years, Mr Milward has been behind the nuts and bolts of almost every shed, shower block, horse yard, wash bay and grandstand on the grounds, and still finds himself at the fields with a tool belt in his spare time.
As supervisor of all the structures, Mr Milward looked over the construction side of the park, leading working bees over the years.
"Thirty years ago there was just a roof and I came out and put a wall in and added three sections to the shed," Mr Milward said.
"Then we concreted half of the floor, and put in another section and shifted the commentary box and expanded the shed to make a store room and a fridge.
"It just goes on and on. My wife told me I should take my bed and live out here," he said.
Just last September, 120 more horse yards were built by Mr Milward and his team, bringing the grand total to 490 yards.
He and Warwick Polocrosse Club president Les Fraser were the driving force behind making Morgan Park the best venue in the country.
"Les Fraser knows what he wants and I seem to know how to put it together for him," Mr Milward said.
Having built a venue for the best horses and polocrosse players, he can't help but be a little proud.
"It's a great sense of higher achievement to think that I've built this," he said.
Mr Fraser said Mr Milward's work and commitment to the quality of the grounds was phenomenal.
"We could have never have done it without him," Mr Fraser said. "He's an excellent builder and there are not a lot of things he can't do."
This week, Mr Milward can be found with a schooner in hand, or serving thirsty polocrosse players and spectators at the bar down at Morgan Park while players take to the paddocks to be the best in Australia.
