New facility named in Ernie’s honour
EllinbankFootball Netball Club stalwart Ernie Matkovich will be further honoured for his significant contributioins to the club, with the new pavilion to be named in his honour.
The club made the announcement at its sponsor and life member’s lunch on Saturday, where guest speaker Jason Bargwanna detailed the challenges of his motorsport career, which included a win with Garth Tander at the pinnacle race in the V8 Supercars calendar, Bathurst in 2000.
Ellinbank’s new facilities were made possible thanks to a substantial financial contribution from Matkovich, with the facility to now be named in his honour.
Funding from the state and local governments allowed the project to proceed, with the project completed in time for the 2017 football season.
The pavilion boasts an indoor multitraining facility for netball, football and cricket, along with players’ and umpires’ change rooms that meet AFL standards.
It also features club offices, a medical room and a gym.
Ellinbank Recreation Reserve is not only home to the Ellinbank Football Netball Club, but the Ellinbank Cricket Club and Ellinbank Junior Football Club, all of which have access to the new facility.
Local schools that use it for sporting events throughout the year will also reap the benefits of the new facilities.
The new facilities will also allow the Football Club to explore possibilities of branching into girls and women’s football.
In a further boost, new 100 lux lighting is set to be installed at the oval to allow for more training into the evening, along with night matches.