Saturday, 21st April

Ellinbank Football Netball Club kicked off its first home game in style by officially opening the doors of the brand new sports pavilion at Ellinbank Recreation Reserve.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing cut the ribbon to the impressive facility today, standing alongside life member Ernie Matkovich whose generous donation paved the way for its construction.

In a further boost to celebrate the pavilion opening, Ms Shing announced $80,000 from the Andrews Labor Government’s Country Football and Netball Program to install new lighting at Ellinbank Recreation Reserve Oval.

This extra project will install 100 lux lighting at Ellinbank for more training later into the evening, as well as opening the door for night matches.

New lighting will improve access to these facilities for local clubs, schools and the wider community, and help the Ellinbank clubs welcome more members than ever before.

Combined with the new pavilion, this is a great opportunity to open more doors for women and girls.

Ellinbank’s new junior football club will be a key driver of the youth girls program working closely with AFL Gippsland. The club already has 71 players and three junior teams of boys and girls.

The Andrews Government delivered $100,000 from our Community Sports Infrastructure Fund to build the new Ellinbank pavilion.

The Pavilion boasts an indoor multi-training facility for netball, football and cricket, as well as players and umpires’ changing rooms that meet AFL standards. It also features club offices, a medical room and a gym.

Ellinbank Recreation Reserve is not only home to the Ellinbank Football Netball Club, but the Ellinbank Cricket Club and Ellinbank Junior Football Club, all of which will now have access to this stunning new facility.

Local schools that use it for sporting events throughout the year will also reap the benefits of the new facilities.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“This modern facility is going to make a world of difference to Ellinbank – and with the addition of lighting – players, volunteers, families and umpires will have better access to all this pavilion has to offer.”

“This pavilion features AFL standard change rooms for men and women, which will encourage even more women and girls to get involved as AFL Gippsland continues to go from strength to strength.”

“These clubs are the heart and soul of our community, which is why we’re giving them the facilities they need and deserve.”