By Tania Martin
OLINDA-FERNY Creek’s netballers christened their new court on Saturday with their second win of the season.
Following their victory over Yarra Glen, a small crowd gathered for the official opening of the long-awaited court.
For the past two years the Olinda-Ferny Creek Football-Netball Club has been pushing for the upgrade.
The previous courts had been so degraded that they had become unsafe to play on.
But in September last year, the project was given the green light following a $60,000 State Government cash splash.
The club also received $40,000 from the Shire of Yarra Ranges and $30,000 of community funds was injected to make the dream a reality.
Club president Peter Hayne said it was fantastic to finally see the court finished.
He said they were now up to competition standard and would be the envy of nearby clubs.
“We are very proud of it and it has been a long time in the making,” Hayne said.
Hayne said the club had also received a lot of support from the Upwey and District branch of the Bendigo Community Bank.
The club was one of 46 groups last week to receive cash under the annual community grants program.
Hayne said the cash would go towards building storage sheds and coaching boxes around the court.
Shire of Yarra Ranges Mayor Len Cox said the court looked fantastic and the combination of the football and the netball was a wonderful improvement.
“Female sport is so important and why should all the blokes have all the fun?”
Sports Minister and Monbulk MP James Merlino officially opened the court last Saturday.
He said it was great to see the netball court in close proximity to the football ground and clubrooms.
“I go to a lot of grounds around the state and historically they are developed differently, with the netball courts some way away from the activity,” he said.
“But here we have the netball, cricket nets, and footy oval all close together, it’s a wonderful precinct.”
Mr. Merlino said projects such as the netball court upgrade were vital to increase participation in sport.
He said it was also vital to provide the best local sporting arenas to foster elite athletes and help them achieve their dreams.
