Let Them Play: Netballers back campaign for new stadium in Thornbury

NETBALLERS say a new stadium in Thornbury would make a “huge” difference to female sport – and now the pressure is on the State Government to stump up the cash.

Lucy Grage-Perry says a proposed stadium would make a “huge difference” to female sport. Picture: David Crosling

THERE’S no limit to Lucy Grage-Perry’s passion for netball.

The 15-year-old lives and breathes the sport — whether she’s coaching, playing, umpiring or training.

“It gives me a chance to push myself hard in developing skills and fitness while also being able to have fun playing sport with my friends,” she said.

The Northcote High School student was recognised as Darebin’s Young Citizen of the Year for her work nurturing young female talent.

But a critical lack of facilities in Melbourne’s north is a barrier to participation Grage-Perry wants to see broken.

She said Darebin Council’s plan for a new six-court netball stadium in Thornbury would make an “incredible difference”.

“This will give girls an opportunity to play netball on good courts and not have to travel too far to do it,” she said.

“It would give me and my team somewhere closer to home to play and train all year round without worrying about the weather.”

Grage-Perry said the proposed stadium would likely encourage older players to stay involved in the sport as they finished school.

Leader has backed the stadium, which would benefit 5000 women and girls, as part of our Let Them Play campaign.

The State Government has been urged to contribute $25 million to get the stadium built, which would be at the heart of a major overhaul to John Cain Memorial Park.

Premier Daniel Andrews told Leader the Government was carefully considering the proposal.

“On the face of it this is a very strong project but I won’t undermine the process by just saying yes, sadly it doesn’t work that way,” he said.

“We’re proud to say we’ve invested in a whole lot of community sport, which helps communities remain strong and healthy.”

Darebin Council has invested $10.4 million in women and girls’ sport over the past two financial years, a period in which female participation doubled.

The money was spent upgrading 17 facilities with female-friendly change rooms, better lighting and new courts.

Darebin was ranked 20th out of 40 Melbourne councils in a 2015 study into female participation rates in sport.

@edjgardiner