Kenmore District Junior AFL Club (the mighty Kenmore Bears!) has been awarded a major grant from the Queensland Governmentâs Department of Communities (Sport and Recreation group) to replace and upgrade its field lighting. The grant of just over $250,000 sits alongside a sister grant to the local Rugby Club, Kenmore Centenary Rugby, of $300,000. This is a significant win for Brisbaneâs Western Suburbs and for both clubs â both of whom have supported their sport for more than 40 years.
Minister Phil Reeves presented the cheques to the respective Presidents at a ceremony on 13 July. At the ceremony, Kenmore Bears AFL President David Scarce thanked the minister for his support of our clubs and acknowledged the collaboration that had been built between the two junior, volunteer-run AFL and Rugby clubs over the years in what is a genuine community project.
The two grants supplement a previous grant of $150,000 from the Brisbane City Council that received strong support from Councillor Jane Prentice who also attended the ceremony. Combined with contributions from club members, the total project funds total around $750,000. These funds will be applied to replace and upgrade field lights at Akuna Oval and bring the grounds to the forefront of the Australian Lighting standards for the two football codes. Plans to upgrade the lights are aligned to actions planned to improve the playing surface to provide one of the superior facilities for junior AFL in Brisbane. Plans are also in place to upgrade our club kitchen facilities.
Both the Minister and local member Bruce Flegg commented on the importance of the wider community working together. Both Club Presidents noted that the successful outcome could not have been achieved without the efforts of successive volunteer committees working together over the past three years.
Work on the project is expected to commence at the end of the current season and be completed by the start of the 2011 season. The project is also a sustainable energy initiative, using the new Active Reactor Technology and will be the first in SE Queensland to utilise this technology that will see reduced emissions at lower cost with directed lighting to minimise any spillover to the local neighbourhood.
For more information please contact Kenmore DJAFL President, David Scarce at kenmorejuniors@aflq.com.au.
Last Modified on 14/07/2010 14:26