Netballers are celebrating the completion of two new courts at Gilbert Gordon Oval in Woodend.
Officially opened on Saturday, June 14, netballers, Macedon Ranges council mayor Dom Bonanno, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas and Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club coach Kellie Duff were there to cut the ribbon on the new facilities.
One of the new courts has been named after Ms Duff, in recognition of her contribution to netball over the past decade, coaching both junior and senior teams.
“I’m extremely honoured, it’s such a legacy to leave for the club and I’m so proud to have been able to have been a big part of it,” she said.
Ms Duff was instrumental in helping advocate and secure the new facilities, which include replacing an existing single, deteriorating court with two new courts, player shelters, court lighting, fencing and pedestrian pathways.
She said the senior players were the first to play on the new courts.
“They were absolutely stoked to be playing on them,” Ms Duff said.
The position of the new courts was carefully chosen through a cultural heritage management plan, put in place to navigate the cultural sensitivities near the significant waterway of Five Mile Creek, to ensure the development was carried out in a culturally responsive manner.
Cr Bonanno said the upgrade was part of the Gilbert Gordon Oval Masterplan, which identified the need for improved netball facilities to meet current and future demands.
“The new courts are a much-needed improvement and will support local sport in Woodend for years to come,” he said.
The $1.39 million project was funded jointly by the state government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund ($985,710); a council contribution ($310,000); a contribution from court designers 2MH Consulting ($40,000); and contributions totalling $55,000 from Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club and its junior counterpart.
“Theres been so much support and its been amazing to see how many people are going to benefit from this,” Ms Duff said.
“Watching the smiles on everyone’s faces as they came to the courts… to play their matches, now they can see they’re just as important as the football (players) at our club and now they have elite facilities to play at.”
