Park's past secures future

Carlaw Park is a building site that will form a foundation for the future of Auckland league. Candice Reed explains
Carol Redman stands still, holding on to memories of a bygone era.
Her grandson, Vito Tevaga, fidgets by her side while construction workers perched several floors above them yell directions to a crane driver.
"It's sad. It's not the same," Carol says.
"Whenever I'm here I get a tight feeling. It's mixed emotions."
It's difficult to imagine now, but Carlaw Park once hosted bruising international tests and raging local battles with thousands of fans shouting from the stands.
Now, there's a car park and a building site for a $120 million retirement village and commercial buildings.
The inner city park hasn't hosted a test since the Kiwis' 74-0 thrashing of Tonga in 1999. Its last game was played in late 2002. For years the park was derelict. Proposals for what should replace it ranged from a stadium for the Warriors, a big-box shopping centre and a motorway intersection to a stadium for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Although many people thought Auckland City Council owned the ground, Carlaw Park has never been in public ownership. In the 1880s, the Chinese community bought the land from the Government for just $1 to use as market gardens. In 1920, Auckland Rugby League leased the ground then bought it in the 1970s. Some years ago, the league sold part of the land to McDougall Reidy & Co. The developers are leasing the back site to Vision Senior Living for the retirement home for 200-plus residents.
There's a huge payback for league. Last month, Vision Senior Living presented the code with $1 million. From February 2012, it will pay a perpetual lease of $1 million a year to use the once hallowed turf.
Carol, who comes from a long line of league supporters and players, is sad Carlaw Park has been lost to fans and players, but happy the league will secure a future for players of Vito's generation with income earned from the site. Vito is only eight, but already he's been identified as one to watch. In a recent under-9 club match he scored six tries.
Vision Senior Living chief Peter Bourke, a longtime Parnell resident, acknowledged league administrators when handing over the money, saying the organisation is happy Carlaw Park can still contribute to the game's development.
League chairman Cameron McGregor says the ground may have been lost as a playing field but will continue to support rugby league. It's not ideal, says Carol, but it's better than nothing.
Carol's commitment to Carlaw Park spans generations. Her dad was a pioneer of Marist Rugby League Club, and was later involved with Bay Roskill club. Her stepfather came through City Newton; her mum played and was one of the early members of Bay Roskill club.
Her eldest brother was a talented player until severe injury ended contact sport.
"I remember coming to Carlaw Park in 1975 when Mum played for the Bay Cougars," she recalls. "It was the final against the Ponsonby Chicks. I think Mum won 10-0, and there's still a photo up on the wall at Bay Roskill of the girls."
Another memory is bitter-sweet. It's from seven years ago when Richmond made the final against Northcote. Standing with bus-loads of face-painted, flag-waving Richmond fans, Carol was engrossed in the electric atmosphere. It was one of the last grand finals to be played there.
"When you supported your team, with the wooden grandstands and open concrete stands across from you, the noise just echoed right across," she recalls. "Five minutes out [Richmond] were three tries up but ended up losing the grand final by a point [28-29]. It was quite sad - however, still very exciting."
Carol has been involved with Richmond Rovers since taking charge of the juniors nearly 17 years ago. She will never watch another game at Carlaw Park, but hopes Auckland Rugby League will find another spiritual home. "I do believe the league is working very hard to secure new grounds," she says. "While we all have fond memories, what they've lost at Carlaw Park is something I don't think they'll ever recapture."