It wasn’t long ago that Fish Creek Football Netball Club’s trophy cabinet was literally overflowing as the most successful club in country Victoria.
That all changed on 4 November 2023, when their clubrooms were targeted by thieves and gutted in a fire, destroying the building and all trophies from the South Gippsland club’s 130-plus year history.
“We did recover some flags, but that was it. All the trophies, the honour boards, all the photos — all gone,” said Megan Vuillermin, Fish Creek Football Netball Club secretary.
Vuillermin remembers standing in front of the burning building beside members in tears, including some who helped construct the clubrooms back in the 1960s.
“A lot of people were asking, what are we going to do? Does this mean the end of the club?” she said.
The answer came quickly. Before the last flames were even extinguished, Vuillermin set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a clubroom rebuild.
“We had insurance, but of course the insurance was on an almost 70-year-old building, so it's not much… It was never going to even half cover a rebuild,” said Vuillermin.
The GoFundMe raised $120,000 in the first week, with hundreds of thousands more since coming in through other fundraising initiatives.
Government support soon followed - $500,000 from the state government for planning costs, and $1.5 million from the federal government - though progress has been slowed by council red tape and planning requirements.
Even so, Vuillermin said the rebuild committee has been extraordinary. “Everyone's worked really well, and we have a ‘we’re just going to make this happen’ kind of attitude. We just find a way.”
In the meantime, Fish Creek Football Netball Club has continued operating thanks to the generous support of their neighbours, Fish Creek Bowls Club, who donated their clubrooms for use during their off-season.
Netball Victoria has also been an ally. Vuillermin acknowledges the work of Judi Buhagiar, Netball Victoria’s Eastern Region manager, who has stood by the club throughout the rebuild process.
“She's just been an incredible support. She's so passionate, and nothing's too much trouble for her,” said Vuillermin.
“She was there the second it all happened… She's just so proactive with netball and recognising players in our area.”
Through it all, the club has been incredibly lucky to have Vuillermin, who was recently awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her outstanding service to the Corner Inlet community in South Gippsland.
Despite the behind-the-scenes challenges, success on the field and court for Fish Creek Football Netball Club has continued.
The senior football team won back-to-back senior premierships in 2023 and 2024, and the A grade netball team has made finals the last two seasons.
Fish Creek Football Netball Club was also awarded Club of the Year at the annual Gippstar Awards in August for their resilience and ongoing sporting success.
A design for the club’s new rooms is now close to completion with hopes it will come in under budget.
The new clubrooms will be located on the opposite side of John Terrill Memorial Park to the original, but there will be nods to the building’s past in the new facilities.
Salvaged bricks from the original building were cleaned and sold for $1000 each and will be prominently displayed in the new building to recognise those who helped the club get back on its feet.
Vuillermin hopes construction will commence this year so dedicated members can see their legacy being upheld.
“We've recently lost a couple of life members, and I don't want to lose another one before we get that building. I want them to see that it's back.”
Support Fish Creek Football Netball Club’s clubroom rebuild by making a tax-deductible donation via the Australian Sports Foundation website
View Netball Victoria's list of funding opportunities.
