SPORT

2021 Indigenous Round

On Sunday 16 May, the Rocherlea Football Club hosted Bracknell for the Northern Tasmanian Football Association Indigenous Round.

Federal Member for Bass and a sponsor of the Rocherlea Football Club Bridget Archer, attended the event, representing Federal Minister for Indigenous Afairs, Ken Wyatt.

Te following is an extract from Minister Wyatt’s speech read out by Mrs Archer on the day:

“I want to start by congratulating your club on your strong history of celebrating Indigenous peoples and cultures. Te pride of the Rocherlea Football Club in this regard plays an important role both on and of the feld that should not be underestimated.

Field of Dreams

Every weekend from late March to early September, thousands of children and their families converge upon Churchill Park to play matches at one of our state’s most popular junior football hubs. During the summer months, the grounds are ofen used for pre-season training by local football clubs

With the growth of junior football in northern Tasmania and a growing need for further sporting infrastructure, the Federal Government committed more than $600,000 during the 2019 federal election campaign for Stage 2 of the Churchill Park redevelopment.

Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said work is well underway.

“Over the coming months a new multipurpose all-weather sports feld will be constructed at the facility,” Mrs Archer said.

“Tis comprises two grass soccer felds, a fullsize cricket pitch and grass playing feld.”

Te project will involve subsoil and landscaping works, the installation of new drainage systems, removal and replacement of selected trees and the installation of new irrigation systems.

Lights On!

Te redevelopment forms part of the masterplan for the Churchill Park Sportsground Precinct and aims to revitalise, enhance and future-proof the site.

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the project represented a signifcant upgrade to one of Launceston’s most highly utilised sporting facilities.

“Te Churchill Park Sportsground Precinct is used by thousands of Northern Tasmanians each week and this redevelopment will ensure the facility remains one of the region’s best,” Mayor van Zetten said.

“It is exciting to see work on this project getting underway. Tis redevelopment will improve Churchill Park for a range of user groups and will cement this facility as a valuable community asset for future generations.”

Investing in sporting facilities amounts to long-term gains for our communities.

For the George Town Football Club, its AFLstandard lights, a collaboration between local and federal government and the local community, including the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, has allowed for additional night training and evening games.

Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said the club is a hub for community sport, felding teams across all levels and age ranges, and this upgrade has made the George Town oval even more accessible to the local community.

“Te grounds are used by Auskick, junior competitions, under 18s, reserves, senior men’s and women’s squads,” Mrs Archer said.

“Tis project, with the help of $250,000 in federal funding will help the club grow and encourage more in the community to participate in the game.”

AFL has a long and enduring connection with our communities, and our culture as Australians. Te football community has a real and tangible place in reconciliation across our country. For you, coming together today for the Northern Tasmanian Football Association Aboriginal Round is an example of that commitment and desire to celebrate with your Indigenous teammates.”

Bracknell won the game by 28 points.