Proposal to rename Baroda Ave Reserve

Update.

At the Council meeting on 8 December 2020, having considered the responses to the public consultation, Council approved the renaming of Baroda Avenue Reserve, Netley to Wally Shiers Reserve from 17 December 2020.

Council noted that the majority of responders favour the proposed renaming. View the full Council report and consultation overview.

Wally Shiers Reserve

It has been proposed that the Baroda Avenue Reserve be renamed Wally Shiers Reserve, in honour of Mr Wally Shiers, the mechanic who joined the Smith Brothers crew on the Vickers Vimy in the 1919 Great Air Race.

Under section 219 of the Local Government Act 1999, the City of West Torrens (CWT) are able to assign or change the name of a public place. As such, the CWT have resolved to investigate the renaming of the Baroda Avenue Reserve located on Baroda Avenue Netley.

A map depicting the reserve to be renamed is below for your reference. You can also view the Assets Naming Policy.

Background on Mr Wally Shiers:

• Walter Henry Shiers was born in Stepney on 17 May 1889 as the eighth child in a family of twelve.
• Mr Shiers attended Richmond Primary School and from 1896 lived on Davenport Terrace, Hilton.
• Mr Shiers worked as a market gardener after leaving school in 1902 and, following the death of his mother, moved to Broken Hill in 1904 to join his brother in the mines.
• At the outbreak of World War 1, Mr Shiers was working in the NSW Riverina as an electrician when he enlisted in the Light Horse Regiment and left for Egypt in June 1915.
• In 1916 Mr Shiers transferred to the Australian Flying Corps' No. 1 Squadron and had a reputation as someone who could fix anything.
• By the end of the war, Mr Shiers was working with Mr Jim Bennett on the twin Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engines for the Handley Page aircraft.
• Mr Shiers became the obvious choice for the Smith Brothers crew to fly the Vickers Vimy in the Great Air Race given the rudimentary aircraft would not have made those sorts of distances without skilful mechanics.
• After the great and historic race, Mr Shiers settled in Sydney where he lived and worked for many years as the chief engineer with Airlines Australia.
• During World War II, Mr Shiers worked in the manufacture of parachutes for the war effort.
• After the death of his wife in the 1950's Mr Shiers returned to Adelaide and resided on Bennett Street, Hilton.
• Mr Shiers passed at the age of 79 in 1968.

How to have your say

Provide your feedback using any of the following:

• use the submission form at the bottom of this page
  
  
• prepare a written submission and mail to:
  Baroda Ave Reserve renaming
  City of West Torrens
  165 Sir Donald Bradman Drive
  Hilton 5033
  
  
• email csu@wtcc.sa.gov.au with the subject heading 'Baroda Ave Reserve renaming submission'.
  
  

Hard copy responses must be received by 5pm Friday 6 November 2020. The online survey is open until 12 midnight on Sunday 8 November.

Feedback will be recorded and analysed as part of the consultation process, with a summary report presented to Council on Tuesday 8 December 2020.

Should you require further information, please contact Jordan Dodd on 8416 6359.