Club upgrades a social initiative

HUNDREDS gathered at the Inverleigh Recreation Reserve on Saturday to cheer on the Hawks in their season openers, and to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new social club rooms.

The event included a visit from Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Gavin Gamble, and Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson, who said the facilities highlights the dedication of Inverleigh’s sporting community.

“It’s your commitment, aspiration and dedication to your community that has delivered this, and I’m so proud that we have worked together on such a great day,” she said.

“This is not just for footy, this is not just for cricket, this is for the entire community. This makes a really big difference to families, to young kids, and of course, to a wonderful club.”

Funded with $500,000 from the Federal Government pledged during the 2019 election campaign, the upgrades include a new social space alongside updates to the kitchen, bar and canteen.

Inverleigh Football and Netball Club president David Haste said the works highlight the Shire’s commitment to the continuing expansion of the club.

“If the Golden Plains Shire didn’t have a forward plan for this sporting complex, then this sort of stuff would never have been able to be presented in the first place,” he said.

“Obviously, we’ve got a lot we want to achieve out here. We’re expanding, we have our first ever girls team in Inverleigh, and we have run out of capacity.

“So, our next biggest focus is lights on the back oval. We can’t run without them, so if we can get that going, we will be set up.”

Inverleigh local Peter Emery played for the Hawks for over a decade in his younger days, and said the addition of a social room is “long overdue.”

“The facilities are absolutely magnificent. It’s been great to be able to have a beer and watch from behind the glass windows,” he said.

“Back in the day, we had the roof over our head and that was it. There was nothing to get you out of the cold or even the rain sometimes. This should’ve been done years ago.”

The ceremony was followed by seniors footy between the Hawks and the Werribee Centrals. For the record, the good guys got the win by 94 points!