By Natasha Fujimoto
SPORTING and community groups in the south end of Shepparton are rejoicing after the opening of the redeveloped facilities at Vibert Reserve on Friday, February 3.
The $4M project was supported by the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Programme and funding from Council.
The revamped reserve and pavilion will be home to the South Shepparton Community Centre, Karramomus Cricket Club, Shepparton Rugby Union Club and the Shepparton Soccer Club.
With an extended function area in the pavilion including a kitchen, bar and food servery, the clubs and community centre are delighted to have more space as well as facilities capable of attracting more sport to the region while expanding their organisations.
Having far outgrown their small commission house, manager of South Shepparton Community Centre Dawn Taylor said, “We will now have the capacity to help so many more people in the community, the pavilion is huge, far larger than our old house and portables.”
Mellisa Silaga, club facilitator of the Shepparton Ruby Union Club said, “Our new home will enable us to advocate for bigger and better events in Shepparton.
“With almost all the competition taking place in the metropolitan area, our junior ruby teams had to travel for all but one of their games last year, now we will be able to host more teams here and build the sport in the region.
“For a long time, we’ve been running our club effectively from under a marquee, but now we have the space for meetings and events. It is our clubroom to decorate,” Mellisa said.
President of the Karramomus Cricket Club, Nathan Delahey said returning to Vibert after one and half seasons would allow the club to host up to three games at once, “…that’s accommodating up to 60 blokes at one time comfortably, it’s a very user-friendly space for us.”
