The Influencers: Lianne Dalziel

Passing on the bat

Recently I had the honour of joining cricketing legend Sir Richard Hadlee for the opening of the new sports centre in Hagley Park that bears his name.

The Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre is a world-class indoor cricket training facility that has been built through the generosity of the cricketing community and their supporters.

They raised $4.65 million for a sports centre that will be available to the community as well to the generation of cricketing greats. Through their efforts, they will help make young people’s sporting dreams come true.

Listening to Sir Richard, it is clear he is enormously proud to have his name on the new centre and to be helping to support the next generation of cricketers. The emotion of the occasion was clear. The Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre joins Hagley Oval as a world-class asset for our city.

I know I have referred to Hagley Oval as the jewel in the crown of post-quake Christchurch so this must be the gold that forms the crown that holds the jewel.

To all those who championed the project, thank you for your passion, commitment and vision. Thank you for your tireless work to develop a facility that will benefit this community and generations to come.

What has been achieved is remarkable.