By Madolyn Peters
EASTERN Swans Football Club has finally got the backing they have been lobbying for.
Club president Peter Kiegerl has received a call from AFL Queensland regional manager in Mackay Jeff Neumann.
It followed an article published by the Daily Mercury about people 'hooning' around the football grounds and tearing it up, costing the club thousands a year in damages.
"I actioned it with the infrastructure team in Brisbane, which looks after community clubs across Queensland,” Mr Neumann said.
The first step is for the club to apply to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, with the help of AFLQ.
Grants available range from $500 to $35,000. Applications open next week and close in January.
Putting a picket fence around the club's oval would stop traffic across the field and maximise the playing surface, Mr Neumann said.
"We want to make sure we look after our footy clubs... we're all in it together in the footy world and we've got each other's backs,” he said.
Mr Kiegerl was over the moon.
"He (Jeff Neumann) told us to go and get a quote to get a fence,” he said.
Not only is the AFLQ pushing to fence off the grounds, they also told the Mr Kiegerl to get a quote putting a picket fence around Rogers Oval.
"That would just make it, it will look like the other grounds,” Mr Kiegerl beamed.
The Eastern Swans have been around for 50 years and Mr Kiegerl has been president for the past 35 years.
He said they had wanted a white picket fence since the club was first built, but could never afford it.
Mr Kiegerl has wasted no time. He started getting quotes Tuesday afternoon and hoped to get back to AFLQ with a figure Wednesday afternoon.
"They (AFLQ) want to help in any way they can,” he said.
"I'm getting the fields measured out as we speak.”
Mr Kiegerl said he still welcomed community members to use the fields once they were fenced off.
"We don't mind sharing it with anyone, that's why we're asking council for help,” he said.
"The crabbers can get in on the road and go around the fence, people can still come in and train and walk their dogs.
"The more people who use it the better.”
He said the club had applied for a council grant last year but had been knocked back.
"It would be great to hear from council, they might help out somewhere along the line,” he said.
"Any improvements we do to maintenance to stop damages saves us money so we can spend it on something else.”
The thousands of dollars saved by stopping people from driving of the fields could be spent on new change rooms and facilities for the club's women's team, Mr Kiegerl said.
Last Modified on 06/02/2017 12:59