Melbourne Demons delighted to see the launch of the ‘MCG of the Desert’ in Santa Teresa, near Alice Springs, to benefit the community

AFTER four years, the community of Santa Teresa – 80km from Alice Springs – saw the launch of its re-grassed oval.

Melbourne Football Club has been working with the Santa Teresa community, near Alice Springs, to resurface their oval with grass to become the ‘MCG of Central Australia’. Picture: Supplied

AFTER four years, the community of Santa Teresa – 80km from Alice Springs – saw the launch of its re-grassed oval.

Melbourne Football Club, in conjunction with AFLNT, the NT Government and Melbourne Cricket Club, first launched the project to grass the red dirt oval back in 2017, at the request of the Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation.

While the oval was originally set to be launched in 2020, the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic saw the sowing of the grass delayed and subsequently the launch of the oval pushed back until 2021.

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The launch, first set to coincide with Melbourne’s Round 12 match with Brisbane which was originally fixtured in Alice Springs, was the first time a game of football was officially played on the newly-grassed oval.

Two teams, made up of players from CAFL Ltyentye Apurte Football Club, took to the field. The under-18 team donned Demons playing kits for the occasion, and took on the community’s senior side.

Head of AFLNT, Stuart Totham, said he was thrilled to see the Melbourne FC partnership grow and deliver great community benefits.

“Although the AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Brisbane Lions is not going ahead, it’s great to see the Dees engaging with the Alice Springs community and surrounds,” he said.

“The re-grassing of the Santa Teresa oval will enable the region to host various footy activities such carnivals, clinics while encouraging growth of our game in that region.”

Demons CEO Gary Pert said the community of Santa Teresa and the oval project were close to the heart of his football club.

“Since the concept of grassing the oval was first proposed to us, the club has worked incredibly hard to help make this dream a reality for the people of Santa Teresa,” he said.

“The launch was an amazing celebration for the community and a fitting acknowledgement of many years of hard work and determination that has seen this project brought to life.

“While Covid-19 has impacted our ability to be in Santa Teresa for the occasion, everyone involved with Melbourne has been filled with immense pride and excitement seeing all the photos and videos coming in from the event and the joy it has brought to so many in the community.”

CEO of Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation & Santa Teresa Enterprises Limited, Ellie Kamara, said the impact of the oval on the community was phenomenal.

“The idea to grass the oval in Santa Teresa was born from a random, wishful remark and the Melbourne Football Club has turned our crazy idea into a reality,” Kamara said.

“Our relationship started out via Santa Teresa’s support of the club’s Cultural Immersion Program and has grown into a true friendship and partnership that has seen our very own MCG of the Desert brought to life.

“We look forward to the new horizons that the oval will bring to our community and are so thrilled that our children and sports men and women will have a facility to rival any small town in Australia.”

The complete oval features goalposts delivered from the hallowed turf of the MCG and brand-new lights.

The Traditional Owners of Santa Teresa invested $270,000 of their own community lease money on the new lights.

The long-term sustainability of the project is also taken care of with future grants already secured, and necessary maintenance equipment donated to the community to ensure it can maintain the oval’s upkeep on an ongoing basis.