By Robert Muir
Sport and safety have been big winners at Mulwala’s Lonsdale Recreation Reserve over the last two years as a result of NSW State Government grants totalling $149,106.
Nets behind the football oval goal posts, resurfacing a cricket pitch and re fencing cricket nets, resurfacing tennis courts and installing basketball rings are now features at Lonsdale Recreation Reserve.
The financial grants were from NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Funding Round 4 at the end of 2020.
Mulwala Progress Association submitted the grant application for NSW Government Stronger Country Community Funding and also proposed a new fence at the tennis court area.
“Unfortunately, we could not afford to do the fencing,” Lonsdale Recreation Reserve Committee secretary Beth Robinson said. “By the time the funding was announced covid lockdowns were in full swing and the price of the project skyrocketed which unfortunately meant that we had to remove the new fence project to reduce costs.
“Basketball courts were first mentioned in 2018 by the year 6 cohort at Mulwala Public School during a town planning meeting held by Federation Council. The courts are the only public access courts in both Yarrawonga and Mulwala.”
Mulwala Football Netball Club has expanded its junior netball program to include three more junior netball teams that will compete in the Yarrawonga & District Netball Association on a Friday night. This again altered the project to add netball court line marking and new removable netball goal rings.
Cricket nets were installed in August 2023 and have been consistently used throughout summer especially by juniors who have had great success this past season.
Football goal nets completed in 2022 have been a welcome addition.
The Lonsdale Recreation Reserve Master Plan was updated at the beginning of 2020. Many improvements have been made at the reserve thanks to NSW Government Stronger Country Community Grant funding and Federation Council.
Major groundworks were undertaken in 2019 to improve irrigation, drainage and to seal the road. The building known as Bay 13 was refurbished to include a public toilet and installation of lawn expanses help to beautify the whole reserve.
Federation Council secured funding through NSW Government SCCF in 2018 to upgrade the playground at Lonsdale Recreation Reserve.
Work for the various projects was undertaken by contractors SJ & LM Contracting Pty Ltd
JWC designs, North East mini digger, with volunteer work by Purtle Electrical, O’Bryan Painting and Line-Marking, and many volunteer club members.
Major sponsors for the projects were Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort and Club Mulwala both with $5,000, TVN On Country $2,000, Federation Council with $1,982, Mulwala Football Netball Club with $7,500, and Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club donated $2,000.
“The results of their work have been very pleasing,” Beth said.
“We thank our major sponsors who have greatly helped make this all happen.
“The club also thanks our volunteers who helped to install cricket nets, basketball rings and paint the tennis court surface.”
Completion of the latest projects, together with previous work as outlined makes Lonsdale Reserve Mulwala a real showpiece.