Local rivalry at new level

The great rivalry on the football ground and netball court and the strong relationship being built by the Warragul and Drouin clubs will take another step up when their teams clash for the second time this season at Drouin on Sunday, July 14.

But their biggest battle this year will be well away from the sports venues.

Local property developer LandGipps and popular builder Simonds Homes have partnered up with the Warragul and Drouin football and netball clubs in a unique community partnership – “The House and Land Battle”.

Inspired by TV shows such as The Block and My House Rules, LandGipps have provided each club with a block of land, one in the newly released Ferntree Ridge in Drouin and the other at Brandy Creek Views in Warragul.

Simonds Homes have come to the party by working with the clubs to select, design and build a home that the clubs will auction near the end of the year and from which they will retain the profits.

LandGipps director David Sowerby said it will be a “battle” in more ways than one.

We are planning to have each club compete in a range of mini-challenges with prizemoney to go towards upgrades and improvements, he said.

At a time when sponsorships are not easy to come by the clubs are unanimous in their excitement about the deal.

Drouin football club president Chris Soumilas said it is rare and, in this case, quite unique to get such a generous sponsorship that also creates opportunities for the clubs and the wider community to engage.

“We are looking forward to getting stuck into it and, hopefully we can sell ours for at least $1 more than Warragul”.

Bragging rights over our neighbour are important, Mr Soumilas added.

Warragul football netball club president Aaron Rhodes said LandGipps and Simonds Homes are well known and respected brands in the area.

To have them on board as major sponsors is fantastic, he said.

The homes are expected to be completed towards the end of football season and will be handed over to each club for a short period of time to enable them to improve the value prior to the big community Auction.

Simonds Homes Jamie Power said the company had always been big supporters of the community, particularly community sports.

We are really excited at the opportunity to build two fantastic homes, have a lot of fun and give back to two great sporting clubs in the process, he said.