Monday, February 16, 2009

Merrett Memorial Gates





Ossie Merrett was a remarkable sporting administrator, best remembered as the Honorary Secretary of the Australasian Olympic Council and Manager of the Australian Olympic Team in Paris, 1924. His team management was widely praised, and team representatives from Manly won three gold medals. However, the following year, much weakened from cancer, he died aged only 41. Manly Council convened the OGH Merrett Memorial Fund, and on 3 July 1927, some two years after his death, the stoneworks and gates of Manly Oval were commemorated in his name. The newly discovered photo shows dignitaries assembled for the dedication of the gates.
In 1969 the gates were relocated from the Sydney Road position to one facing onto the corner with Belgrave Street, approximately on the site of the old Croquet Clubhouse. The relocation was due to a proposed widening of Sydney Road which did not happen.

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