The Castlemaine “Magpies” Football Netball Club Juniors – a childhood club of Brownlow medallist and Premiership star Dustin Martin – will kick-start season 2018 under the bright lights thanks to $100,000 from the Andrew Labor Government.
Minister for Sport John Eren and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards joined club members today to announce the grant for new lighting at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve’s Doug Powell Oval.
The upgrade will bring the lighting on the oval up to AFL standard for night training and games.
It means the club will have room to grow and more locals can get on the reserve when they want, safely, at all hours.
Grassroots football and netball are booming, with around 300,000 people playing netball in Victoria and more than 950 new female footy teams joining competitions across the nation since the inaugural AFW season.
Upgrades like this one will encourage even more people to join their local club and play the sport they love.
Doug Powell Oval is one of 23 sports grounds across Victoria to share in more than $2 million from the latest round of the Labor Government’s Country Football and Netball Program.
The program is helping clubs like the Magpies in regional Victoria update tired grounds and build the facilities they need.
Partners the AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria have delivered an additional $1 million towards the program.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“Bright new lights at Doug Powell Oval means more night footy and netball in Castlemaine, allowing our future stars to get on the ground whenever they want.”
“Every young aspiring player should know what it feels like to play a big game under lights – giving them extra incentive to put on a show.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
“This upgrade will help the Magpies field more teams, train for longer and find the next Dustin Martin.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020