Football and netball clubs around Gippsland are being encouraged to apply for funding to update tired grounds and build the facilities they need with help from the Andrews Labor Government’s Country Football and Netball Program.

The Andrews Labor Government is giving players, parents, volunteers and fans the facilities they deserve, with grants of up to $100,000 available for grounds and facility improvements, change room upgrades, court refurbishments, resurfacing works, shelter, or lighting installation.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing has welcomed the Program, and encouraged clubs from all over Gippsland to apply for a grant to improve local sporting grounds and facilities.

These grants will help provide players, parents, volunteers and fans from successful applicant clubs with the facilities they deserve, by upgrading infrastructure and facilities to keep pace with growing participation rates all over the region.

Gippsland has a proud history of producing some of Australia’s best footballers and netballers, including Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Roughead , Gary Ablett, Barry Round, Australian Diamonds champion netball coach Lisa Alexander and player Janine Ilitch.

Football and netball clubs are the lifeblood of many Gippsland communities – places where families make friends, where players of all abilities can shine and where towns and districts come together in the name of hard-won glory and healthy competition.

For more information or to apply online, visit www.sport.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, John Eren:

“Grassroots sports clubs in regional Victoria make our communities tick, but we need to give them the facilities they need to keep evolving.”

“Regional Victoria has a proud history of producing our nation’s most impressive sportsmen and women. By investing in facilities we’re doing our bit to help uncover the next Brownlow medallist or Diamonds champion.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“This investment in regional sporting clubs will ensure that home and away players, volunteers and families have good quality, durable and safe facilities, and will make it easier for the next round of Gippsland champions to make their mark.”

“I would encourage every club with unsuitable, outdated or unsafe grounds or facilities to make an application so that Gippsland gets a fair share of the funding available under this Program.”