By Paul Ellercamp
St. George Leader
April 3, 2003
The St. George-Illawarra Dragons and Kogarah Council will decide mid-month whether the Dragons can play their first game back at Kogarah Jubilee Oval as scheduled on May 4.
Demolition and construction work is proceeding to refurbish the ground for the game, but it's not certain yet that it will be finished in time.
The May 4 game is the local derby against the Sharks. Saints officials are predicting a sell-out.
But with construction work still going on, Jubilee Oval Community Appeal co-ordinator Frank Bates said yesterday that a decision would be made in mid-April whether the May 4 game would go ahead at Kogarah.
Mr Bates said the decision would depend on progress between now and then.
"We might get a week's rain. We just don't know," Mr Bates said.
Work to date has included demolition of old structures, excavation and pouring concrete slabs. The refurbishment includes new seating, media and crowd facilities.
The Dragons yesterday postponed indefinitely Red and White Day, which was to have been held at the ground this weekend.
"Ongoing demolition and construction work currently in progress at Kogarah Jubilee Oval as part of the Stage One upgrade makes the Oval currently unsafe for public access, hence the postponement to a day to be announced," Mr Bates said.
The Red and White Day was intended for supporters to mingle with past and present players, as well as other sports stars from the St. George district. There was also to be an evening concert.
Mr Bates said a new date had not been determined for the day, which has been planned as one of the key events in the campaign to raise $1.85 million to support the refurbishment.
He said it may be held over to coincide with the opening of the Legends Walk, a path on the perimeter of the oval where pavers will acknowledge Dragons greats, and sponsors' plaques will acknowledge their contributions to the refurbishment project.
Mr Bates said that this would be one of the last features of the refurbishment to be completed.
The Jubilee Oval campaign website says the appeal so far has raised $1.67 million, of which $50,000 has come from community fundraising.