By Tate Papworth
Female football in Brimbank has been given a kick-along.
AFL Victoria last week pledged $100,000 towards upgrading female-friendly changerooms throughout Brimbank.
Lionheart Reserve in Taylors Lakes, John McLeod Reserve in Deer Park and Keilor Park Recreation Reserve will gain improved facilities as part of the pledge.
AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper said the funding would help ensure females had the facilities they deserved.
“With our participation rates growing year on year and with female football booming, the provision of welcoming facilities that can cater for this growth is critical,” he said.
“Whether it is new lights, oval surface upgrades or female-friendly changerooms, these spaces require upgrades so that our volunteer-led clubs can continue to deliver their incredibly important services to their communities.”
The funding is part of a recently pledged $2.76 million package of AFL funding to dozens of local football facility projects across Victoria.
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said the funding would go a long way.
“The funding from AFL Victoria would assist council in creating clean, safe and accessible facilities that support the growing levels of female sport participation in our community,” she said.
“The works will involve the upgrade of existing change rooms into female-friendly changerooms with new toilets, showers, amenities, flooring and umpire’s room.
“Council expects the changeroom upgrades across the three sports reserves will continue to boost participation in sport for people of all ages, abilities and genders,” she said.
“This is important work – we know that improvements to sport facilities have a real and measurable impact on female sport participation and levels of physical activity – supporting everyone in our community to live healthy and active lives.“
