By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE sporting heartbeat of the Gembrook community stands to benefit from a whopping $2.6 million boost should Malcolm Turnbull’s coalition government win the upcoming federal election.
The Gembrook Recreation Reserve, which recently underwent extensive upgrade works to its playing surface, would receive $1 million from a re-elected Turnbull government to upgrade its tired, worn down rooms and this would then be matched by the Cardinia Shire Council.
The rest of the money is due to come from Bendigo Bank and club funds.
Gembrook Cockatoo Football Netball Club president Damian Kee said the works would include a renovation of the existing rooms as well as an extension.
“We’ll have a glass front, similar to what’s at Beaconsfield, so you can get a great view of the game and our current change rooms will become a big function room,” he said.
“The rooms are 50 years old and haven’t been touched since. They function well but they’re getting very tired and they need a lot of maintenance.
“This money will go towards the next 50 or 60 years and that’s what we’re aiming at.
“I’ve been nervous for a while because we really didn’t know for sure this was happening until mid-week.
“I’m over the moon. If it’s a legacy I can leave behind that the club gets new rooms, then I think I’ve done my job – along with Marcus (vice president Marcus Adams) and the committee that has helped organise all this.”
La Trobe MP Jason Wood, who made the announcement at Gembrook on Saturday 4 June, added: “We understand that the community needs groups like these to stay strong and I’m committed to making sure we have the modern facilities our growing community needs.”
Mark Butler, the Brookers’ 2000 premiership coach, was instrumental in the design of the new project, which will benefit local footballers, netballers and cricketers among a host of other community groups.
