Geelong Sports Museum celebrates first birthday

GEELONG Sports Museum has reached its first birthday, and invited some of the Geelong United women’s basketball team and students from St Robert’s Primary School to help mark the occasion on Friday last week.

St Robert’s Primary School was the lucky winner of a competition between local schools, which were asked why they would like to join the celebrations.

On the day, there was some fierce competition between the athletes and students on the interactive museum experiences. Jaz Shelley and Taylor Mole from Geelong United won the sports quiz, but the students were clearly the best at commentating a football match.

The museum is part of the $140 million Stage 5 redevelopment of GMHBA Stadium, delivered by the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust in partnership with the Victorian government.

The St Robert’s Primary School students also took part in a basketball shooting clinic at the neighbouring Djilang Plaza.

“We wanted to celebrate our first birthday with a local school because the museum is more than a celebration of local sport stories and heroes,” Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive officer Gerard Griffin said.

“It’s also a place where we can look forward and inspire the next generation of stars.”

Shelley and Mole also ran a basketball shooting clinic with the students in Djilang Plaza next to to the museum.

“We’re so pleased to be a part of this milestone,” Geelong United chief executive officer Mark Neeld said.

“Long term, we are looking to be a big part of Geelong’s sporting history with our WNBL team, and moments like this – celebrating the museum with the students of St Roberts, are a key part of moving us forward into the future of the Geelong sporting landscape.”

Students from St Robert’s Primary School try out one of the museum’s exhibits.

Museum manager Jessica Reid is excited about the educational offerings at the Museum:

“Since opening, we’ve had a great response from local schools with many primary and secondary schools visiting in our first year,” she said.

“Teachers have made use of the suite of learning resources we have available including lesson plans and learning trails that have links to the Victorian curriculum.

“We are proud to cover learning areas including First Nations stories, Innovation, Resilience, and Health and Wellbeing.”

Geelong Sports Museum is open Wednesday to Friday, from 10am until 4.30pm.

For more information, head to geelongsportsmuseum.com.au