By PETER DOUGLAS
THE unveiling of the new changerooms at the Keith Hume Fraser Reserve last Wednesday marked the end of five years’ work for the Montrose Soccer Club.
After much fund-raising, along with collaboration with state and local governments, the club has completed an ambitious project to overhaul its facilities.
This started with a major reserve upgrade, including the redevelopment of the number one soccer pitch, as well as drainage and surface improvements of the number two pitch in 2013.
Club president Alan Symons said the unveiling represented much more than just improved facilities.
“We had to sell plenty of ‘Monty’ burgers in order to reach the fund-raising target,” he said.
“To get the project up and running, the club had to contribute funds, too.
“There was much sponsor support, and countless raffles, trivia nights and plenty of selling snags.”
The club raised more than $50,000 for the project, with the Victorian Government and Yarra Ranges Shire also contributing heavily.
Mr Symons said the upgrades had helped increase local participation in sport.
“We started with just two teams,” he said.
“We now have grown to two senior teams, three teams on a Sunday and nine junior teams.”
To mark the most recent achievement, many local dignitaries attended the plaque unveiling, including Member for Monbulk James Merlino and Member for Croydon David Hodgett.
From Yarra Ranges Shire, chief executive Glenn Patterson, Mayor Maria McCarthy, and councillors Len Cox and Mike Clarke attended.
In his address, Mr Merlino acknowledged the efforts that had gone into the project years before, both from Yarra Ranges Shire and the previous state government.
Cr Cox was particularly pleased with the outcome.
“One of the great joys of being a councillor is seeing things get done,” he said.
“It’s so important that youth get outside and become involved in sport.”
