Disappearing park signs

Up until 12 months ago, Jack Floyd Reserve, beside Cope Street, Redfern, had a sign, but this was removed due to a planned upgrade of the park. The sign was not replaced until April this year, following prompting at Council meetings by Tony.

However the temporary replacement, says Tony, is about a sixth of the size of the original sign. “They have put up a new sign that says ‘No Entry’ – if you come up from Cope Street it says ‘No Entry – Bicycles Excepted’ so apparently you can put up large signs that say that but you can’t put up large signs that say the name of the reserve,” he commented.

Jack Floyd lived in Redfern for most of his life. He died in 1975, aged 80, and the reserve was named after him a year later. He served in both World Wars and regularly walked the streets of Redfern, Chippendale, Darlington and Waterloo, going door-to-door, raising money for repairs for St Benedict’s Church by selling ‘Silver Circle’ raffle tickets. He was also a great supporter of the Mt Carmel Church in Waterloo, South Sydney Football Club, Redfern RSL (for which he would carry the flag each Anzac Day) and the Darlington Labor League.

His granddaughter, Joanna O’Connor, says his family are still very proud of him and she is grateful to Councillor Tony Pooley “who has worked tirelessly to have the sign re-erected in the reserve”.

Tony Pooley senses that there is a pattern with signs being taken down during park and building upgrades but not reinstated. He cites the disappearance of the signs for the May Pitt Reserve, St Johns Rd, Glebe; the Charles Kiernan Reserve, of Abercrombie Street, Darlington; and the Anthony Doherty sign of the former Surry Hills Library as evidence of this trend. “I think there is a lack of concern about the social heritage of the area,” he says. “I don’t think there is enough attention to detail. We certainly don’t hang onto signs.” He added that the Council seems “pretty keen on rejuvenating stuff but not on retaining that historical link to those reserves.”

When the disappearance of the sign at Charles Kiernan Reserve was raised at a Council meeting held on May 12 2008, the response given is as follows: “It is not known when the Charles Kiernan sign was removed, or who removed it.” However it was also advised that, “New signs which show the name of the reserve and providing notice that dogs are not permitted within the playground area, are due to be installed by the end of April.”

The dimensions of the new replacement signage were not specified.

Photo: Ali Blogg - Can you see it?