A local cricket club in the outer eastern suburbs has received a grant to improve the club’s canteen facilities.
CitiPower, the sponsor of the Victorian Cricket team have donated over $80,000 to 17 clubs around Victoria as part of their Canteen Grants Program.
The state’s fast bowler, Mitch Perry came down to his junior cricket club and gave the good news that Knoxfield Knights Cricket Club is one of the 17 clubs to be awarded the grants.
Perry said it’s always great fun to get back to his local club – a place with some really good memories with his mates in junior cricket.
“The dream as a young kid was to play out here with my old man and my mates.”
He said the stepping stones from grassroots cricket to premier cricket have been outstanding and Mr Perry hopes more junior cricketers are given the same chance as him.
“If you’ve got a healthy canteen, then you’ve got a healthy club especially when people come down and watch the game, they would want to have a cold beer or hot dog. So I think it’s important to meet these needs to keep the club supported.”
Knoxfield Knights Cricket Club president Greg Paroissien said the funding is enormous for them, because local clubs struggle to raise money on their own.
He said the only form of income they have for their club is by selling things through the canteen and over the bar.
“To be able to have a dishwasher means we can do away with buying paper plates and bamboo cutlery which everyone hates eating off.”
The donations will not only allow the club to have a dishwasher but it’ll free up funds to spend in other areas that will help the kids get better and parents have to spend less.
“We can afford to buy other things and help coaching, and equipment, it’ll go a long way,” Paroissien said.
CitiPower general manager Scott Russell said the company has granted funds to more than 80 local cricket clubs to improve their electrical infrastructure.
“We all know how essential canteens are to local clubs, but it’s also the one place where electrical safety risks are most likely to be found.”
