As the 2011 NRL season draws to a close this weekend, one of the game’s ‘greats’ will be honoured with a renamed highway
September 28, 2011
Rugby league legend Darren Lockyer will be honoured with the official renaming of a stretch of the Warrego Highway near Toowoomba.
Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace says the 85km section from Riverview to the bottom of the Toowoomba Range at Withcott would be known as Warrego Highway: Darren Lockyer Way.
“Darren Lockyer is a great Queenslander and this is something fans are keen to happen as a way of recognising his sporting achievements,” he says.
“The renamed stretch recognises Darren Lockyer’s outstanding rugby league journey and I am delighted to honour him in a way that he can be remembered by Queenslanders for years to come.”
Darren Lockyer started his senior rugby league career in the central southern Queensland town of Roma – also noted as the original home of fellow League Legend Arthur Beetson.
“Lockyer went on to make his mark with the Brisbane Broncos, so it’s fitting this stretch of the highway be renamed after him,” Wallace says.
“Special signage, including “Welcome to Darren Lockyer Way”, will be posted over the next three months to show where the honorary road is located.”
Wallace says to avoid confusion, this section of highway will be officially known as ‘Warrego Highway: Darren Lockyer Way’, thereby local residents’ residential and mailing addresses will not be affected.
“The re-naming is on top of the Bligh Government’s contribution towards a life-size bronze statue of Darren Lockyer which will stand proudly next to Wally Lewis’ statue outside Suncorp Stadium,” says Wallace.
Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale says the rugby league legend was a great friend of the city and had repeatedly demonstrated his support for Ipswich, especially during the January flood.
“Darren is a tremendous role model for junior players and to have this official announcement made in Ipswich is further recognition of the enviable reputation our city has in producing rugby league greats,” Pisasale says.
“Each time someone drives along Darren Lockyer Way they will be reminded of a player who has brought great joy to rugby league fans of all ages.”