By Amelia Barnes
This time last year, netballers from Campbells Creek Football Netball Club were playing on a decades-old asphalt court — the only court at their home ground, Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve.
“It never met any Netball Victoria standards. We had no runoff, there were cracks in it, there were dips in it, and water would pool all through it. It was horrible,” said Renee Taylor, vice president of Campbells Creek Football Netball Club.
Fast forward to now and the club is thriving after the completion of an upgraded court partially funded by the state government’s Country Football and Netball Program.
“The local council are ones that actually apply for the funding — all the hard part was done by them — but we were advocates to get them to apply for the funding, and we were the driving force behind it,” said Taylor.
The Country Football and Netball Program funding comes almost 10 years after Campbells Creek Football Netball Club first contacted Mount Alexander Shire Council requesting an upgrade of their home ground.
The state government grant contributed $250,000, and the council contributed $398,953, to the new court that features a competition-standard acrylic surface, fence, and 200 lux LED sports lighting.
Construction was completed in lightning speed between the 2023 and 2024 netball seasons, ensuring the club’s operations were not interrupted.
“Once we were notified of the grant, they started the building in September and they were done by April,” said Taylor.
“I do believe that this was the fastest turnaround time for a project ever. From the time that they started work, to actually delivering us the court, that was really, super quick.”
The new court is a big morale boost for Campbells Creek Football Netball Club — who are one of several football netball clubs in their shire — and entered recess in 2021 (due to an inability to field a senior football team).
“There's a lot of football netball clubs [in the region] to try and share the same money, and our club just always missed out,” Taylor said.
The club’s netballers “couldn’t be happier” with the upgraded court, which Taylor hopes will also attract new players.
It’s not just for the club and visiting teams in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL) to enjoy, but an asset for the entire community.
“I take my kids there all the time and they love it,” said Taylor.
Campbells Creek Football Netball Club has bounced back from recess with seven netball teams and four football teams now competing.
Taylor has been personally involved with the club for decades and believes it’s an important pillar of the rural area surrounding Bendigo to be proud of and invest in.
“I feel like a football netball club is the heart of your town, and I think it would be a huge loss if we weren't there.”
Applications for the 2024 Country Football and Netball Program close shortly, and Taylor encourages other netball clubs and councils to apply.
“Absolutely apply. The worst thing can happen is they say no, and then you go back, and try again, and try again,” she said.
The new court is just the start of Campbells Creek Football Netball Club’s new era.
“No one had faith in us at all that we were coming back [from recess], but we proved them all wrong, and we got a new court.
The Country Football and Netball Program — delivered in partnership with Netball Victoria, the Victorian government, AFL and AFL Victoria — provides funding of up to $250,000 to Local Government Authorities to help regional football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations upgrade and develop facilities.
Applications are now open and close 30 September 2024.
