Kate Withers
A new-look Cowwarr Football Netball Club was officially unveiled last week after works worth more than $1 million were completed at Cowwarr Recreation Reserve.
The club boasts brand new unisex home-and-away change rooms, trainers’ change rooms, umpires’ change rooms and male, female and family-friendly amenities.
Cowwarr is the first of nine reserves to be upgraded under the state government’s $5 million Community Managed Places fund for Gippsland sporting venues.
Cowwarr Football Netball Club committee member Garry Blair was labelled the facelift a “defining moment” for the club.
“For the club itself it’s a huge thing. We had a 40-year-old facility before that we built ourselves and it was tacked together here and there,” Blair said.
“This is principally a facility built for purpose and we’ve now got individual everything, facilities for the girls with separated change rooms for the sides, showers and toilet blocks.
“We’ve had an upgrade to our toilets in the social club room area, which has made a major different to the facility there as well.”
Blair said the club had “come a long, long, long way” since its formation in 1895 and said the works meant it was now “a totally different place”.
“It’s got the potential to actually bring other players and that sort of thing to the club because people do look at what clubs have and haven’t got these days, so it makes a big difference,” he said.
“We’re like all clubs – we’ve been up, down and everywhere and we’ve had lean years and good years – so when you can get a facility like this it’s just magnificent.”
Latrobe Valley Authority director community wellbeing and worker transition Andrew Waller was on hand at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and said the upgrades to the nine facilities were a win for Gippsland.
“For us, sport is a significant part of bringing the community together and these upgrades really ensure that our clubs are able to cater for the growing participation in sport across the region,” Waller said.
“This project is a great multiple-use environment, not just sport – it enables a range of events and activities to actually take place here. “
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning regional director Steve Chapple also announced funding for another eight reserves at the event.
Other reserves set to benefit from upgrades include Traralgon, Glengarry, Monash, Gormandale, Heyfield, Maryvale, Willow Grove
and Ronald Reserve.
“Sport is such a significant part of bringing our community together and these upgrades will ensure our clubs are able to cater for growing participation in sport across our region, in particular female participation,” Chapple said.
The Community Managed Places fund for Gippsland sporting venues forms part of the $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative.
