By Joshua Wells
TWO football netball clubs are desperate to continue upgrading their facilities, with lights and scoreboards at the top of the list.
Two Macedon Ranges clubs are fundraising for new equipment, with Romsey Football Netball Club after a new electronic scoreboard worth in the vicinity of $50,000, while Lancefield Football Netball Club chase money to install lights at the multi-purpose netball/tennis complex.
Romsey Senior Football Netball Club president Wayne Milburn confirmed to The Free Press the club was looking to upgrade the current scoreboard to offer more at matches and over the summer months.
“We would love to get an electronic scoreboard to go with our newly purchased goal posts,” he said.
“We have one of the best grounds in the region and it would top it off to have this scoreboard… it also allows us to run movie nights through the summer season.
“They aren’t cheap.”
The club fundraised with the juniors clubs, with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council also assisting, to get the new goal posts.
While the Redbacks are on the hunt for a new scoreboard, Lancefield Football Netball Club is hoping for the new lights.
They recently raised $15,000 to fund the new netball/tennis courts, but Lancefield Football Netball Club president Clark Todd said they needed lights too.
“They are 100 per cent important,” he said.
“Lights for the multi-purpose court are paramount and it is good for our community as a whole.
“We have been fundraising but we would like some more help.”
Macedon Ranges Shire could help the club get access to up to $100,000 from the state government.
Sport and Recreation Victoria’s 2019/20 round of the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund is anticipated to be announced in the coming weeks.
Council is looking for preliminary ideas from clubs on project ideas to improve facilities in the shire.
Mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson said she wanted to encourage clubs to get in touch with council’s Recreation Department to discuss their potential projects.
“Increasing participation is the main aim of this grants program, particularly projects that increase opportunities for females and juniors.
“Sport provides many health and social benefits to our community, and the more people involved the better. If you have a project idea to help the growth of your club, we want to hear about it,” she said.
Based on previous years, funding categories may include minor facilities, cricket facilities and female-friendly facilities.
Council’s expression of interest process closes noon Monday, April 9.
Council can apply to Sport and Recreation Victoria for up to five (5) expressions of interest on behalf of local sporting groups.
For more information and view contact details, visit
mrsc.vic.gov.au/CSIF
