Ocean Grove Football Netball Club’s (OGFNC) junior footballers won’t need to train in darkness anymore, with the federally funded lighting upgrade now complete.
Now based at Shell Road, the club still runs some of its junior program at Memorial Reserve and has been seeking funding for facilities upgrades for some years.
The new lights are part of a $750,000 federal government investment with the remainder earmarked as a contribution to an upcoming upgrade of the clubrooms.
OGFNC women’s coordinator Bianca Quinn said there were feelings of relief and positivity around the club now the lighting upgrade was complete.
The club uses Memorial Reserve predominantly for junior competition and training, which have had difficulties in past seasons without adequate lighting.
“Our club’s just gotten so big over the last few years, it’ll be just such a great resource,” she said.
“The junior programs have definitely been a big area of growth for our club, they’ve just boomed.
“We’ll be able to have junior night games and also training. Training facilities will now just be at the next level for the kids.
“We do a lot of training at night in footy season. We’ve had teams training, not fully in the dark, but it was really testing in the depths of winter.”
Federal Member for Corangamite Libby Coker visited the reserve alongside local junior footballers to mark the installation of the new lighting, highlighting the project’s importance to the community.
“This lighting upgrade is about keeping our local facilities up to standard and ensuring our community has access to safe and modern spaces for sport and recreation – this is particularly important for our junior sporting clubs,” Ms Coker said.
“Memorial Reserve has a proud history, and this project will ensure it continues to be a hub for local sport for years to come.”
