THE Hawkesbury Australian Football Club’s push for a new clubhouse and home on Bensons 3 is a couple of steps closer to reality after two fillips of news within the past three weeks.
The club received a major boost a fortnight ago when the blueprints for the construction of the new clubhouse was approved by the Hawkesbury City Council, which gave the green light for construction to begin as soon as possible.
And last week, the club received an extra piece of good news, with confirmation that it has won a $10,000 grant through the AFL Community Facility Grants and Joss Group to install an in-ground sprinkler system on Bensons 3.
Hawkesbury AFC hopes to have sufficient funds raised to be able to lay the foundations for the clubhouse shortly following the end of the season with an optimistic goal of having it operational in time for the 2012 season.
Construction is planned for the wing of the newly configured Bensons 3, on what is currently known as Bensons 4.
It was with the support of the Hawkesbury Sports Council that the ground was reconfigured to north-south from its previous incarnation of east-west ensures the new building is better positioned.
The $10,000 grant, which was secured with excellent assistance from the AFL NSW/ACT’s Facilities and Projects Manager Joe La Posta and the Hawkesbury Sports Council, will see Bensons 3 receive an in-ground sprinkler system worth more than $27,000 installed within the next two months.
Nor-West Jets’ president Glenn Whitney said the two announcements were excellent news for the future of the entire club.
“The confirmation of the building plans approval for the new clubhouse, along with the $10,000 grant goes a long way to ensuring a permanent future home for the club,” he said.
“The support in particular of the Hawkesbury Sports Council, AFL NSW/ACT and Hawkesbury City Council has been invaluable.”
In other good news, the club has announced that Sydney Swans’ premiership hero Nick Davis, The Age Chief Football Writer Caroline Wilson and GWS Giants CEO Dale Holmes will be the guest speakers at the Richmond Club- Hawkesbury AFC Corporate Raceday at the Hawkesbury Race Club on Monday, June 13.
Davis memorably kicked four last quarter goals to lift the Swans over Geelong in the 2005 first semi final on their way to their drought-breaking premiership that year, Wilson also appears on Channel 9 program Footy Classified, and Holmes is the former CEO of AFL NSW-ACT.
They will join Davis’ father Craig, who played for Carlton, North Melbourne, Collingwood and Sydney, as special guests on the day.
There are less than 10 tickets remaining for the corporate event on the day, so if you haven’t secured yours yet, there is a real danger of missing out.
Visit www.nwjets.sydneyafl.com.au for more information.
Last Modified on 24/08/2011 14:51