Sport
29 June, 2023
Avoca set for a return to their clubrooms in time for 150th year celebrations after October floods
Relief is on the way for Avoca, with an official return to their clubrooms locked in after the devastating October floods. The Bulldogs have largely been using shipping containers before and after games throughout 2023 so far, with the clubrooms...
Relief is on the way for Avoca, with an official return to their clubrooms locked in after the devastating October floods.
The Bulldogs have largely been using shipping containers before and after games throughout 2023 so far, with the clubrooms used in a smaller capacity during events such as Thursday night meals and functions.
However, the confirmation that the Bulldogs will be in their rooms in time for their July 22 meeting with Dunolly also gives them a chance to organise their 150th year celebrations before the end of the season.
A club statement on their Facebook page last Friday night outlined some of their challenges throughout the season in trying to get their celebrations organised.
“The club is pleased to advise that after a significant amount of progress which has been made over the last week at the club rooms that we are confident that the latest updated handover date to us will be met and as such we can begin planning for our 150 year celebrations together with a number of football and netball reunions,” the post read.
“We understand that locking away this date so late has impacted many who may not be able to now attend however the club has decided to continue with these celebrations in what has been an extremely difficult season to date.”
Avoca president Bill Drummond couldn’t hide his relief at being able to get the celebrations in a special year up and running, as well as the return to the clubrooms.
“I feel really good. To get a final date to move back in means we can start planning a few things, with our 150th year celebrations that have been put on hold. We can now lock away a date for that and some football and netball reunions on the same weekend, which means we can start planning,” he said.
Drummond said the exact date for the club’s 150th event hasn’t been set yet.
“The 150th year celebrations haven’t been locked in yet. The official handover date for the restored clubrooms — and the day we targeted from the start — is July 20. We play home that weekend against Dunolly. We’re mindful of moving everything back in and getting everything back up before we set up nights like the 150th,” he said.
Drummond said he was a bit worried about how the damage to the clubrooms would affect recruitment, but as it has transpired, it hasn’t been an issue.
“It was a bit of a concern, especially since we had a bit of a turnover of footballers, how the new players were going to react to something like this, as the place certainly wasn’t like that when we signed them late last year, but I think we are starting to see the benefits, we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
“I must say, the group of footballers and netballers that we have has been fantastic. No one has whinged or complained, they’ve all understood the situation that we are in, but they also understand that they will have a nice updated facility as a result now.”
Most of all, Drummond is looking forward to showcasing the new and improved rooms to the returning footballers and netballers for their reunions.
“To run the 150th with the reunions will be special. I spoke to Navarre counterpart Jim Jess on the weekend, who coached the 1993 premiership, and it sounds like a number of those players will return, as well as those that played in netball premierships from the past,” he said.
While Avoca remain winless and 13th on the football ladder, the netballers continue to lead the way, with the A grade team well in the hunt in third place.
The Bulldogs welcome Royal Park to Avoca Public Reserve next week.