ANOTHER piece of the Pearcedale Recreation Reserve upgrades will be complete following a $332,000 funding announcement last week.
And the big winners in the recent Federal Government funding will be the Pearcedale Netball Club, with a new court and pavilion to be built.
Pearcedale Netball Club president Kerry Gracan said the upgrades would cement the future of the club.
“We’re absolutely rapt. This boost fills the future of the club that started as a little self-funded club,” Mrs Gracan said.
The junior netball players will soon be able to host home games in their town, as the two courts the club has at the reserve are only used for training because they do not comply with Netball Australia’s requirements for matches.
But, more importantly, the girls would not have to run across the road to use the toilet, Mrs Gracan said.
“The pavilion will be fantastic. At the moment we only have a shelter shed. We won’t have to send the girls to the shops to use the toilet.”
A kitchen area, store room and an office will also be built as part of the pavilion. The court upgrades have started and the pavilion will be build by October, Mrs Gracan said.
“We have to sincerely thank the Pearcedale Recreation Reserve Committee of Management for all of the work they have done.”
President of the committee of management Gordon Smale said the latest funding announcement was another step forward to completing a master plan for the reserve, which hosts football, netball, cricket and tennis clubs.
He said he hoped money would be allocated for the funding of a tennis pavilion in next year’s council budget.“There has been a marked improvement with facilities at the reserve. We have had a very good relationship with the council and (former councillor) Colin Butler worked very hard for us,” Mr Smale said.
Some of the upgrades since about 2003 have included a water tank and sprinkler system for football ovals, upgraded cricket pitches and tennis courts.
“Like any other major works there have been ups and downs. I think there had been a lack of funding in Pearcedale over the years, but the works in the last few years have been good.”
– Bridget Brady
