Pascoe Vale Central Cricket Club threatened by rising tenancy fees
A FORMER Australian Test cricketer has gone in to bat for a Pascoe Vale cricket club, urging the public to back the 90-year-old club, which could be forced to close following hefty fee hikes.
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A FORMER Australian Test cricketer has gone in to bat for the 90-year-old club that gave him his start.
Clint McKay, who played one Test match and 59 one-day internationals for Australia, said the Pascoe Vale Central Cricket Club faced an uncertain future following Moreland Council’s decision to grant a casual tenancy at Oak Park Reserve this summer.
McKay said he was devastated to hear the club he played junior cricket for had been dealt yet another blow, on top of the club’s already increased fees and was urging families to get behind it.
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As part of the Moreland Council tenancy allocations, PVC will start the season on a casual tenancy because of doubts about its junior and female programs.
Last season the club didn’t field a junior or female side.
The fees payable to the council will be increased from $4749.20 for the season to a rate of $392 per match day for the use of two grounds and pavilion hire, placing a financial burden on the 90-year-old club.
The extra fees will add financial strain to the club after playing last summer without running water or permanent toilets due to the construction of new rooms.
McKay said his family had deep ties to PVC.
“We’ve been out there for generations, there’s so many different family connections and when I was growing up it was really a family club,” he said.
“It was devastating to hear there were no juniors, I knew what the junior cricket was like and what it meant to me growing up there. It led me to take on my career.”
Club secretary Peter Bryceson said PVC was likely have an under 10 boys side and hoped to have both a junior and senior women’s team.
New club rooms built at the reserve will be available to PVC from mid-October.
The club has appointed Lauren Labouchardiere as a female manager and coach.
“I’d love to see a women’s Big Bash player from Pascoe Vale in the future,” McKay said.
PVC will hold a junior registration day on September 22 at Oak Park Reserve from 10.30am to 2.30pm, to find out more visit pascoevalecentralcc.com.au
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