LEITCHVILLE Community Sporting Complex has received a $50,000 dollar State Government grant to install an electronic scoreboard at their recreation reserve.
The current manual scoreboard is believed to have been originally built in the 1970s, and Leitchville-Gunbower Football Netball Club president Matt Hawken said it will be missed by many.
“I think once it goes there will be a fair bit of nostalgia, but it’s just about saving volunteer hours and making everything a bit easier,” Mr Hawken said.
“Usually it would be three volunteers who have to keep score up there on any given Saturday, but we’re fortunate here that our scorekeeper Andrew likes doing it.
“But it’s a long day up there, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Last week it was a pretty warm day, and there were a swarm of wasps that kept attacking old Andrew as he was trying to keep score.
“An electronic board will be able to be operated from the timekeeper’s box – so no more wasps.”
Recently, the club was also awarded a roughly $900,000 Federal Government grant to upgrade the female changeroom facilities.
Mr Hawken said hopefully the grant would mean the club’s female sporting teams are able to grow.
“We’ve got a really strong netball pathway that goes from minis through to senior netball for females, but pathways for football and cricket are a bit more challenging,” Mr Hawken said.
“But when you’re spending and trying to invest in your facilities, and the better they become, hopefully that means more participation.”
Earlier this year, works were completed on the men’s facilities after receiving another separate grant.
Mr Hawken, who is also on the sporting complex committee, said the grants are important for ensuring the community has a place to come together.
“We’re only a small community here, less than 400 people and a lot of farmers,” Mr Hawken said.
“People like coming and spending time here, you want to make it as pleasant as possible.
“During events like the Millenium drought, and subsequent floods, this is a place where people come together to face challenges together.
“Farming especially can be very lonely, you work a lot on your own, so it’s important to have a place where people can come and spend time together socialising.
“We’ll have around 150 people come through here on a Thursday night, and lots of people will stay for a couple of beers and a meal.
“Little country clubs are so important – some of these kids here at Auskick tonight are third, fourth, fifth generation kids at our club.
“They might wear the same number as their grandparents wore back in the day.
“All those little things are very special.”
