Cardinia Shire chief executive officer Don Welsh, MeredithPaul Dunlop
PAKENHAM’S new sports, aquatic and recreation centre is to be called Cardinia LiFE.
Cardinia Shire Council chief executive officer Don Welsh unveiled the complex’s official name and logo before councillors, election candidates and representatives at a special ceremony on Friday.
Mr Welsh said the naming of the facility marked another step forward in the realisation of something “really special” in the municipality.
He said it was a challenge to find a name that included the many uses the facility will have when it opens next year.
“The very hardest part is agreeing on a name. There is only one thing harder than choosing a name (for a facility such as this) and that’s choosing carpet,” he said.
Cardinia LiFE represented leisure, fitness and exercise, Mr Welsh said.
The name was chosen after three months of brainstorming sessions with secondary school students from Pakenham and Kooweerup, as well as the local basketball, netball, swimming and disability services groups who will use the pool.
As previously reported in the Gazette, council had looked at a range of options to describe the complex that will provide a range of sports, health and recreational options for people from throughout the shire, of all ages, abilities and interests.
Mr Welsh said the name had to be short enough to fit on staff uniforms, and be easy to pronounce and remember.
“Most participants agreed the name Cardinia LiFE represented the ‘whole of lifespan’ use of the complex.
“It will have three pools for training, rehabilitation and water play; eight courts for ball sports; a space for martial arts, aerobics and dance classes; a gymnasium; a cafe, and an occasional child care centre, so we couldn’t just name it as an aquatic centre,” he said.
“I thank all the groups and individuals who helped with the naming process, and I look forward to welcoming them among the 450,000 visitors who will use the complex each year.”
