Angela Neale, Jeff Isaac and Shelley Gray, with daughter Sophie, are behind moves to make the Powelltown Sporting Complex a community focal point.By Kath Gannaway
POWELLTOWN is set to turn its isolation around by expanding the use of the local sporting complex for numerous community activities.
“Because of Powelltown’s location, many people have felt isolated and somewhat disconnected to the rest of the Upper Yarra community,” the facilitator of the Upper Yarra Community Building Initiative Jeff Isaac said.
“That perception is about to change.”
Mr Isaac said the Powelltown Sporting Club, which includes the local football, netball and cricket clubs, in partnership with the Upper Yarra Community Building Initiative project, was working to develop the Powelltown Sporting facility to involve other activities besides sport.
“The complex could be a focal point for the whole community, a community meeting place,” Mr Isaac said.
Angela Neale, the Powelltown Sporting Club’s community coordinator said the complex was under used.
“It would be of great benefit to the community to use the complex as a means of bringing the community together,” she said.
Some of the ideas already provided by the community include first aid courses, computer courses, playgroups, health workshops and various support programs.
Ms Neale said the club had an enviable reputation of community initiatives including connecting high profile sporting identities with the community and a long-standing indigenous player program involving education and improving living environments.
“Mentoring programs are also well under way to be delivered in 2008 to teach life skills under the DOXA Goal Assist Program in partnership with the Victorian Country Football League and Leading Teams Australia using elite AFL players as mentors.”
Shelley Gray, netball coordinator for the club, said a festival was planned for February next year.
“It will be a fun event and one way to continue to build community identity following on from other activities connecting the community,” Ms Gray said.
The festival will include the opportunity for the community to provide ideas for making Powelltown a better place to live.
Mr Isaac said that often people believed there was not much to offer them if they were not involved in sport, and this initiative was designed to reach out to the whole community.
