Funding for equal opportunities

NORTH Ballarat Football Netball Club is set to see a five-million-dollar upgrade to its facilities with State Government backing.

The announcement was made by Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison on Sunday, and the upgrade will include new buildings at Frank Bourke Oval.

There will be new player change rooms, umpire change rooms, an administration and scorers’ box, a veranda and storage.

Club vice-president, Angela Carey said the announcement will provide benefits to the entire region. “We are really excited as our club’s been working towards this for many years,” she said. “I know some of our opposition clubs who have played there will say our clubrooms are well below standard.

“To have new clubrooms now that will be available for everyone to use is really exciting.”

Currently, female football players change in the netball rooms or in their cars.

The upgrade will include female friendly changerooms and Ms Addison said it is important to provide women and girls with equal opportunities in sport.

“We talk about respect in Victoria and the importance of gender equality,” she said. “When we’re not providing girls with equal facilities to young men and to boys, it’s just not fair.

“We want to say that women in Victoria and girls in Victoria are always equal whether it’s on the sports field, whether it’s in the workplace, whether it’s in a school setting or any community group.”

This grant is part of a $5.5 million package which was announced for regional Victoria.

Other funding includes $100,000 to upgrade the Creswick Mountain Bike Trails and Hammon Park Trailhead website and other promotional activities, $100,000 for a new sheltered space for gathering in Ballan, along with new signage and equipment at McLean Reserve.