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Sport

3 November, 2022

Maldon FNC boosted by $1 million grant

Maldon and Harcourt football netball clubs, as well as the Mt Alexander Falcons, will be the beneficiaries of investment for upgrades for female-friendly facilities and lighting, announced by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards. Maldon was the...

By Michael Thompson

Maldon FNC boosted by $1 million grant - feature photo

Maldon and Harcourt football netball clubs, as well as the Mt Alexander Falcons, will be the beneficiaries of investment for upgrades for female-friendly facilities and lighting, announced by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards.

Maldon was the biggest winners, with $1 million invested for gender-neutral change rooms, as well as accessible paths and umpire changerooms, with $200,000 also invested for netball lighting and a further $25,000 for player shelters at Bill Woodfull Reserve.

The reigning Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League football premiers, Harcourt, will see $250,000 in-vested into upgraded lighting at Harcourt Recreation Reserve, which will help for training nights for the club, as well as the Mt Alexander Falcons, who play home games at the ground.

The announcements were part of a wider range of sporting upgrades throughout the Mount Alexander Shire Council, which also included $30,000 for pitch planning in Chewton.

Gabe Smith, from the Mt Alexander Falcons, was impressed with the commitment towards sporting clubs in the Mount Alexander Shire.

“We’re so appreciative of the work of Maree Edwards and the Harcourt Football Netball Club. Kathie Teasdale has done a lot of hard work, supported by the Mt Alexander Shire Council to get these grants approved. It will be helpful for the safety of our training nights, as most of the ground wasn’t illuminated with the current lights. It opens up heaps of possibilities with night games, as well as our players being safe on the ground as well. I’m super happy with these developments,” she said.

“We had sections on training nights where the coaches were unable to schedule match-play scenarios as the goals weren’t lit properly and a bit dangerous. The lights also failed on several occasions and wouldn’t turn on. It was great that we had electricians that could rectify it quickly, but we also had to move several sessions to the netball courts, or had to move elsewhere. We understood and wore that, and just appreciated having access to the facility. But new lights will be a gamechanger.

“We’re excited for next year, as we have big plans for our season. We’ve been fortunate with the timing of coming in and working in partnership with Harcourt to get access after completing their all-gender changerooms, which has been so important for our members, and with the new lights, it’s the cherry on top, and we’re lucky to be a part of it.”

Representatives from Maldon were contacted for comment.

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