After a career that’s spanned more than four decades with the club, Sandown’s long-time grounds foreman Paul Curran has retired.
Paul grew up in Springvale, a ‘hop, skip and a jump’ from the track, and went to school in Noble Park. It was one day while cutting through the track’s grounds as a shortcut to the Sandown Park train station that he was offered a casual job during Saturday morning trials.
“It all started from there,” he said.
“I was 15 years old and did various jobs here until I started my carpentry apprenticeship. Once I finished my apprenticeship the unions were stopping all jobs so I got retrenched. I got offered a job here, and also had an offer from the horse track and also at the cemetery at Springvale. I had the choice of jobs so I chose to stay at Sandown. It was close to home and I think I made the right choice.”
Paul has filled numerous roles at the club during his time, but the part he enjoyed the most was being out on the track, meeting the trainers and working with the greyhounds.
“All of the work you do during the week is for race night. That’s what it’s all about.
“I got to meet a lot of good people along the way, plenty of characters, and a lot of very good dogs.
“I knew Peter McGuinness (trainer of Hall of Fame greyhound Lizrene) and one time, when I was doing the drag in the catching pen I dragged in and it went over by the fence. Lizrene was crazy… she hit the fence and Peter McGuinness was going to kill me. He’s a nice guy but don’t upset him – he was a big fella, I was only a kid then.
“Those days the betting ring used to be full, we had a lot of bookmakers and you used to watch the crowd as well. There was a lot of things happening in the betting ring, it was very entertaining.”
The Curran family has a strong connection with the club. His father, Harry, helped lay the track ahead of its opening in 1956. All four of his brothers worked for the club, as have his children Katie and Robert. It’s also where he met his wife of 32 years, Sue.
“Sue used to work in the office here years ago and when she started I thought, ‘who’s this bird in the office!’ That’s when I first met her and that’s been the best thing that’s happened working at the greyhounds. She’s the love of my life.”
In time, Paul plans on doing some travelling in the caravan. More immediately however, he plans on spending more time with his family.
“Katie just had a baby girl, so I’d like to see more of her. It’s completely changed my life having a granddaughter, I make up excuses to go around to her place and see her.”
The entire team at Sandown Park extends their congratulations to Paul and wish him all the very best in the next phase of his life.
Paul was awarded life membership of the club in 2012
