Last chance to run on Deek's Drive

Deeks Drive is not the name of an actual street or road. While I won’t be running there tomorrow, I have fond memories of the 2000-2002 24hour mtb races, and in December 2002 a Xmas picnic with some mountain biking friends under the tall shady pine trees.

There are two places in Canberra named after living ppl that I’m aware of… the Stephen Hodge Criterium Circuit and the Robert De Castella Running Track, both at Stromlo Forest Park.

Mr Gillespie said :

So……whether we like it or not, we have to accommodate yet another new suburb…..:sigh:

But will this be the end of a drive named after a living person (correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t street names named after dead people?) Also, why is the name “Deeks” not “De Castella”??

The name was chosen in the early 1980s when Deeks was the number one athlete in Australia and commonly known by that name. It was the track where he used to train. Because it wasn’t a road, and the name was a nickname the authorities – before self government – made an exception to the rule that a person had to be deceased in order to have a street or other place named after them. The only other exemption I am aware of is Cumpston Place, Macgregor which was partly named after a pioneering couple who were present at the founding ceremony for Canberra and were still alive in 1972 when the street was gazetted.

I was wondering when they were going to “announce” these new suburbs. construction has been going on for quite some time…

So……whether we like it or not, we have to accommodate yet another new suburb…..:sigh:

But will this be the end of a drive named after a living person (correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t street names named after dead people?) Also, why is the name “Deeks” not “De Castella”??