COHUNA’S new multipurpose media display board is now installed and ready to go at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
The 5m by 4m screen can be used for the projection of any kind of media, and while the Kangas will use it as a scoreboard, they also see it as a community asset.
The board was the brainchild of former club president and vice-president Grant Langhusen and Barry Patterson, and has been supported by the Gannawarra Shire Council, which provided a slice of Federal Government drought funding for the project last year.
Around 30 per cent of the cost has been contributed by the club.
“It was always based around the community,” Mr Lunghusen said, explaining that the club looked forward to seeing the equipment used by other groups.
“It was all thanks to the Progress Association and the council.
“The footy club contributed a fair bit through time and effort, as well as some of the money.”
Kangas committee member Steve Spring, who has overseen its installation, described the screen as incredibly versatile.
“The options are limitless, based on your capabilities,” he said.
“Basically anything you can link to the laptop you can put up there – movies, live sport. It would be great for Anzac Day.
“There’s two big speakers we can bring outside, and it’s also integrated into the speakers in the club room.”
Mr Lunghusen said the cutting edge item was one of a series of improvements at the recreation reserve area over the last few years.
“It was always in our project plan.
“We were doing a lot of things – the new goal posts, re-seeding of the oval, the lighting and new entrance.
“It’s been a pretty damn fair effort to get it all done in a five-year period.”
With Williamstown VFL club already holding pre-season camps at Cohuna, it was hoped the improved facilities would attract more VFL clubs, he said.
Next on the agenda are upgraded clubroom facilities.
Gannawarra Shire Council mayor Lorraine Learmonth praised the initiative as “something the community can run”.
There is talk of an AFL grand final screening or a free movie night to launch the big screen.
But that of course will be dependent on the COVID-19 restrictions that are in place.
