By Luke Voogt
The renaming of Newtown’s Stinton Oval with a fast-food brand has angered its namesake’s grandson and a Geelong history advocate.
Geelong’s council failed to consult Frederick Stinton’s family before approving the three-year change to KFC Oval, grandson Richard told the Indy.
“I wasn’t aware it actually happened,” he said.
“You’d think (City of Greater Geelong), as custodians of that oval, would have contacted the family – I could have been Googled quite easily.
“The councillor who was in charge should have (found) out who it was named after and sought the (family’s) permission.”
Mr Stinton, a 74-year-old who moved to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast decades ago, criticised council for approving the change.
“It’s just dollars before history.
“That oval was where we used to play football. It’s not ethical to just take a name and rub it out for money.
“It’s a pity when something like that is commercialised.”
Frederick Stinton was a five-time mayor of City of Newtown and Chilwell.
“He was a mayor for about 12 years, which is pretty much a record,” Richard Stinton said.
“He put a lot back into the Newtown council, if anyone researched it.”
Mr Stinton said his grandfather, along with his father and great-grandfather, also contributed generously to Geelong College and local community groups.
The Stinton family lived in Geelong for more than a century and designed parts of the city, including Kardinia Park, he said.
“If you knew the history you’d know how hard they worked. They did a lot for Geelong.”
Former National Trust Geelong branch president Jennifer Bantow suggested that the oval’s new name could be revised to acknowledge both Frederick Stinton and KFC.
“I can’t see how one word could affect (KFC’s) marketing, particularly as (the oval) has that much historical significance and is described as one of Geelong’s most-stunning cricket grounds,” Ms Bantow said.
“In fact, I think it would enhance the name for the sponsor. It would show they respect the history.”
Council would have been “considerate” to contact Mr Stinton, Ms Bantow said.
Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club and Geelong Amateur Football and Netball Club officially launched the renaming on Monday following council approval.
“The clubs agreed to a number of standard conditions and their application was approved,” a council spokesperson said.
“This is an option provided to community clubs as an avenue to generate much-needed funding and is in place at a number of ovals.”
The name KFC Oval was for fixturing, marketing and internal club purposes but “the substantive name of Stinton Oval” remained, the spokesperson said.
