Changing of the guard at Stadium

Luke van Velthooven stood in the heart of the Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 building as the applause echoed.

It was a fitting end; a farewell tribute held in the very facility he had helped bring to fruition.

The former chair of the stadium trust was officially farewelled from the role by friends and colleagues last Wednesday.

After 25 years at the helm of the trust that spearheaded the stadium project, Luke was quick to praise all who had helped make it the first-class centre it is today.

“Why is the stadium a success? Because it delivered what it promised it would deliver.

"The main reason for its success is the people, it’s by the people, for the people and it achieved all it set out to do.

“People respect it because it’s part of them, this place doesn’t get tagged … it’s part of what everyone enjoys.”

Four generations of the van Velthooven family were at the stadium to mark the milestone, including his six-month old granddaughter.

It was a proud moment for the family who listened as speakers, including master of ceremonies Duncan McKenzie, councillor Gerald Hope and incoming chair Matt Kerr, paid tribute.

Matt said he clearly remembered first meeting Luke.

“I remember this very, very young guy got up introducing himself to the audience as chairman of Stadium 2000.

“It occurred to me, when I was looking at this guy, that he was bloody young to be leading such a big community project but the other thing that occurred to me was that he clearly had passion and determination to make this thing happen.

“In the 19 years I’ve worked with Luke I can honestly say that the determination and passion for the stadium hasn’t waned one bit.”

“Long service of trustees has been a hallmark of the stadium. We are all incredibly passionate about what we have as a community,” Matt said.

Luke was appointed Patron of the Trust taking over from Roger Rose.

Thanking those who he has worked with over the years, Luke said he knew it was the right time for him to step aside.

He said he was confident that those coming in were the right team for the job.

“There was a great doco called The Pecking Order, and there’s an old duck in that who refuses to give up the chair and it was quite insightful and made me think.

“The energy was coming back and I wasn’t quite keeping up, I wish I was.

“There are some wonderful things ahead and what a great management team we have, we had that back in the day too. We are in very, very good hands.”