Community campaign to help fund pavilion

By Lachlan Ellis

A new pavilion for the Darley community and sporting clubs is due for completion next year, and the tenant clubs are asking for the community’s help to make it the best facility possible.

Construction of the Darley Park Community and Sports Centre is being funded jointly by the State Government, Moorabool Shire Council, and Darley Park’s three tenant clubs – the Darley Football Netball Club (DFNC) Seniors, Juniors, and the Darley Cricket Club.

Last week the tenant clubs launched the ‘Darley Sports & Community Facilities Fund’, asking the community to help complete the pavilion, by contributing to the $4.1 million project.

The fundraiser has a target of $500,000, and all donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

DFNC President Mark Shelly said the pavilion would cater for the whole Darley community and provide a sense of community ownership, with completion expected in late February 2023.

“What we’ve initiated the fundraiser for is, there’s significant other funds required for the fit-out and surrounds of the building, such as the kitchen fit-out, chairs, tables, et cetera. There are a lot of extras that we’ll need to come up with basically,” Mr Shelly told the Moorabool News.

“What we want to be able to do is make sure the new facility is inviting for all sectors of the community. By having a fundraiser of this nature, members of the community can volunteer and put in if they’re able to, and that eases the burden on the tenant clubs trying to acquire more funds.”

Mr Shelly said that despite the football clubs’ significant investment to extend and upgrade the existing pavilion – which is believed to have been around since at least the mid-70s – it had been “categorically outdated” in recent times.

“To now have access to have a brand-new building will be phenomenal. It’ll be all inclusive…with the evolution of women’s football and cricket, the new pavilion will be able to cater for the new teams. All teams will have their own area, which is fantastic,” he said.

Darley Cricket Club President Tim Gallagher echoed the need for a modern facility at Darley Park, and said the Cricket Club was eager to put it to use.

“We welcome contributions from the community to enhance this fantastic project. We’re excited to have facilities that are modern, and that we’ll be proud to use as our home ground facilities. To be able to socialise and have functions in a modern facility will be fantastic,” Mr Gallagher said.

“It’ll give the opportunity for people on the Darley side of town to have a wonderful complex to hire and use for private events.”

To contribute and help build a fantastic new facility for the Darley community, visit www.asf.org.au/projects/darley-football-netball-club-inc.