Boost for female sport

Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club members. (Anne-Louise Lindner) 241173_01

By Oliver Lees

Sporting clubs in the Macedon Ranges will share in the spoils of an initiative designed to improve female participation in sport.

Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club and Riddells Creek Tennis Club have both been selected as part of the state government’s Change Our Game Community Activation Grant.

Woodend-Hesket Football senior coach Ben Tankard said it was a positive development for the club.

“It’s great, we have some very strong participation in our netball side, but we’re hoping we can build that across to football as well,” he said.

Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club will receive more than $5000 toward its ‘Celebrate Women at the Nest’ event, which aims to celebrate women and girls.

The event will bring together players, parents, supporters and volunteers from three clubs in Woodend to support gender equality in the area.

Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the funding would contribute to important work in the community.

“It’s fantastic to see so many women and girls in the Macedon Ranges getting active and involved in grassroots sport,” Ms Thomas said.

Riddells Creek Tennis Club will receive $2500 toward establishing a specialised 10-week coaching program for girls aged between 10 and 12 years old.