A week ago I had the absolute honour as Mayor and ward Councillor to officially open much-needed, fabulous new multi-use courts at Dunolly's Deledio Recreation Reserve.
Things don't get much better than this and it will be a memory I will savour and treasure for a long time.
This is because I know first-hand how much work has gone into making the end result become a reality.
Nothing starts without money and in this case, after years of tirelessly advocating, it was a Victorian Government grant of $728K and a Central Goldfields Council co-contribution of $243K that finally got the ball rolling in earnest.
Next up, a rock-solid partnership with Council, Dunolly Football Netball Club, the Deledio Recreation Reserve Committee of Management and the wider community. With a special shout out to Dunolly Football Netball Club Life Member Katie Lovell, who has also been the chair of the Court Upgrade Committee during the life of the project.
Then it was over to Council's Major Projects and Recreation teams for getting the works started after a tender process, together with Quantum Civil, the builders, court designers Idwalla and our very own local business, Shay Excavations.
This all resulted in one netball court and one tennis/netball/multi-use court, night lighting to expand hours-of-use, player shelter & bench seating, paths, landscaping, a drinking fountain and fencing. To see these first-class new facilities being used and enjoyed from now on for years to come is just fantastic.
I'm super proud of the Dunolly people. You work hard and you are tireless. You all grasp the value of having a community club like this as a place where everyone can come — it's a safe place, it's a welcoming place.
Dunolly certain has passion, and I think this is the result: that things are being built and funding is being given, because you are all working hard. It's that sort of commitment that gets you noticed and is testament that the passion you all have, which is what gets you over the line.
And yes, this project brings us another step closer to Dunolly getting the first-class Recreation Reserve facilities it desperately needs.
We are not quite there yet, but I can assure you that as with the magnificent electronic scoreboard that was opened last year, and now the new courts - the advocacy will continue!
Council is currently awaiting two live grant applications for the funding needed to see the clubrooms rebuilt – our hope is that we can make this project happen sooner rather than later.
