Cats return to a new look ground
by Nathan Weatherhead After almost two years off the park, the Neerim Neerim South Football Netball Club celebrated the opening of the newly redeveloped ground at the Neerim South Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
A huge crowd of supporters, sponsors and past and present players attended the official opening performed by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing, Baw Baw Shire mayor Danny Goss, recreation reserve president John Rochford and Neerim Neerim South Football Club life member Tom Goodwin.
Ms Shing acknowledged the many hours that had been poured into the redevelopment.
“I really want to thank everyone who has been able to bring this $1.3 million dollar project to life.
“I can’t wait to see what you can do with it, it’s a place that’s dear to my heart and congratulate you on this achievement,” she said.
Cr Goss touched on the amount of work that has gone into seeing the project come to life when speaking to the crowd.
“This oval redevelopment will have a significant impact on the Neerim South community. There’s a lot of planning that’s gone into it and shows what can be achieved when working together,” he said.
Mr Rochford thanked everyone who had been involved in the project, the Baw Baw Shire council, A1 Civil Engineering and AFL Victoria and made mention of the new view spectators can enjoy.
“I believe we now have a viewing area equal to any in Gippsland, if not Victoria, but maybe I’m a little biased,” Mr Rochford said.
Football club president Matt Cumming called for a minute’s silence to mourn the loss of members Max Lockett, Shane Owen and Arthur Edney last year.
The new ground, which is much wider than the original, saw the embankment cut into with a large retaining wall now rounding in front of the club rooms giving spectators a brilliant view of the new ground, one that is the size of the MCG.
A new pop-up irrigation system was also installed alongside state-of-the-art draining, meaning the days of running through the mud are gone.
The recreation reserve committee have applied for more funding to install additional seating and a new scoreboard, with other ideas also set to be put forward in the future.
Supporters gathered to watch the first bounce of the senior game, with all Neerim Neerim South football and netball sides on the ground for the ribbon cutting, joined by their Poowong opponents.
It was a fairy tale ending to the day, with the Cats prevailing over ladder leaders Poowong by just six points in a thrilling contest.