On that horrific weather day two weeks ago where one would be reluctant to be
outside, let alone be playing tennis, I had the pleasure of being present for
the announcement by the Minister for Sport and Recreation in the other place,
James Merlino, of a $51 000 grant to the Aireys Inlet Tennis Club for two
resurfaced synthetic grass courts and sports quality lighting.
The Aireys Inlet Tennis Club is very well supported; in fact,
it has the largest membership of all tennis clubs across the Surf Coast shire.
With this funding grant the facilities will obviously improve markedly for
current members and no doubt attract new members to the very successful club.
I must also mention the work of the club committee members: in
particular treasurer Kevin Riley and secretary Ceri Johnson, who were present at
the announcement. I look forward to meeting with them again to witness the
finished works, expected to be completed later this year.
The club and the Surf Coast Shire Council contributed $12 800
each to the project in another example of state Labor government, shire councils
and local sporting clubs cooperating to improve local sporting facilities, build
local communities and encourage Victorians to be active across the state.
In another coup for sport in the Surf Coast region, the
minister also announced funding of $60 000 for new sports standard floodlighting
at the Quay Reserve, Torquay.
These two projects are part of the Brumby government’s
Community Facilities funding program and also encourage Victorians to stay
healthy and active, which is what the state government’s $150 million Go for
Your Life program is all about.