Fred Smith Reserve Playground, Marine Parade, Hastings
Couple of large wooden boat structures. Unfortunately one boat had been partly burnt down and was fenced off when we were there. The good news is that the crew got off safely in the lifeboats. The other boat has a ramp winding up to some steps which led to dual slides. The structure also has a small straight slide, tic-tac-toe, steering wheel, fireman's pole, music making equipment and rope and wooden scrambling walls.
The burnt boat has steps, ladders, vertical square rope climbing frames, telescope and small slide. There are also concrete wall enclosed sandpits, family size see-saw, speed boat on a rocker, large soft crab to crawl over, springer and swings. The entrance has five carved wooden pelicans.
There is a liberty swing for wheel chair users. The key for this swing is available from the Hastings Library at 7 High St, Hastings. Tel (030 5950 1710. Opening hours: 9am-6pm weekdays, 9am-12pm Saturdays. Closed Sunday and public holidays.
Shelter with BBQs and unshaded tables. Some shaded seats next to playground. Huge grassy area next to playground. Toilets, skatepark, table tennis table and giant chess / checkers board. Free chess and checkers pieces and table tennis bats and balls are available to borrow from the Pelican Park Recreation Centre reception.
Update: The playground has been refurbished after the fire and photos reflect the updated playground.
Fred Smith Reserve
Frederick George Smith was born in Hastings in 1903 to father Abraham and mother Anne (nee Kearns).
Fred has a passion for sport and in the winter months Fred played for the Hastings Football Club. Between 1923 and 1935, Fred played approximately 150 senior games and became a life member of the club.
Over Fred's playing days the team was the most feared side in the competition due to their strong and rough style of play. After Fred's playing days, he became the clubs trainer. "A rub down from Fred was equal to a rough game of footy" quoted Vic Jeremiah.
In the summer month's Fred played for Hastings Cricket Club and again, was made a life member of the club. Known as the "slogger", Fred walked out to the pitch with only his front leg pad. Fred's playing was to hit for six or go out. Fred worked for both Hastings and Frankston Shire Councils as a member of the Outdoor/Road Crew which in that time consisted of hard manual labour. Fred's work duties included the operation of the manual grader and the hot job of road tarring and sealing. In Fred's later working years, he was involved in a serious truck accident, suffering injuries to his foot. Complications some time later necessitated the removal of his leg above the knee.
Another of Fred's responsibilities was the maintaining of water levels in the original Hastings swimming pool with freshwater from the mains both in the morning and at night. This was to ensure that the pool was always made available for the local children to swim in the warmer months.
During World war two, Fred was a voluntary Air Raid Warden and Enemy aircraft Spotter for the Naval Patrol. Fred Would scan Western Port with the local fisherman and the naval patrol looking for enemy submarines, ship and aircraft.
Fred died in 1973 and is now buried at the Tyabb cemetery. Fred Smith reserve was named after him by the shire of Hastings in recognition of his valued contribution to local sport & community life.
Photos:
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Location
Cnr Marine Parade and High Street, Hastings 3915 Map
