Ribbon cut on new Hawks nest

THE Inverleigh Football Netball Club’s new changerooms were officially opened last Saturday.

As the Hawks prepared to take on the Geelong West Giants, the ribbon was cut on the rooms by Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, alongside Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Gavin Gamble and Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle.

With an overhaul of the changerooms including women’s facilities, Ms Spence said the upgrades would allow the club to expand their female squads.

“This is going to have an impact for so many years to come of people that will now get more involved,” she said.

“I’m talking about girls and women who have always faced a barrier particularly in regard to female-friendly changerooms.

“Now they’re here, there’s no doubt there will be a massive boost.”

The $1.77 million project was funded with over $70,000 from the club alongside grants from the State and Federal governments.

New additions include umpire and female friendly changerooms, upgrades to the existing spaces alongside first aid and storage facilities and the installation of a new septic system.

The changerooms have been in use since April, and Inverleigh FNC president David Haste said the club is already reaping the benefits.

“We thought we’d be a few years out from a girls’ team after this but we’ve already established an under 12s team,” he said.

“Our aim now is to build it up now that the opportunities are there.”

Mr Haste said he already has the club’s next big project in mind.

“Oval two is the priority now, just to get some fixed lighting there to be able to run both fields,” he said.

“Our main oval is being overworked and our teams are continuing to grow, so this needs to really be the next thing.”