Shelter Project under construction
With “hockey HQ” (sea container) being utilised to store our training equipment and club merchandise, it became very clear that our next priority needed to be shelter for players, parents and supporters. Taking advice from life member Chris Willcox ( Willcox Architects) plans were drawn for a simple yet sturdy construction that will enable us to shelter from the winter rain and provide shade during the summer. We applied for a Stronger Communities Grant through Nola Marino’s office and in July, we received the news that we had been successful!
It took a further 3 months to run through the finer details of planning, lease arrangements with the Shire, but November 21st, we began the build in earnest, with the aim to be enjoying it asap for the summer social hockey competitions. The groundworks coincided with a few days of 37 deg headwave conditions, the ground was ridiculously hard, but thanks to our neighbours (the bowling club, we could connect to power and much needed water). With a morning coffee, a motivated site crew and Andy (Winnings Construction) leading the build, the main structure was up over a few days. The final guttering will be added very soon.
The committee would like to thank the following
businesses for their support
Andy - Winning Constructions Pty
Pete - Hanson (Heidelberg Cement Group)
Chris - Willcox Architecture
Roger - Margaret River Structural Engineers (WA)
Dan - Norrish Fencing
Ian - BMI Crane Hire
Errol - Mitre 10
Thank you Nola Marino MP, Federal Member for Forrest
for supporting our grant appication
&
thanks to the
Site Crew Volunteers
Andy Winnings, Wally Zalewski, Maxine Williams, Stu Wishart,
Chad Brookes, Matt Kent, Ev Hayter, Aaron Ride and Tom Gorta
The Stronger Communities Grant:
The Stronger Communities Programme provides each of the 151 Federal electorates with $150,000 to fund small capital projects. These projects aim to improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant viable communities. Federal Members of Parliament (MP’s) identify potential projects (up to $20,000) and invite applications from their electorate.
The project scope - was a request for a basic undercover structure, a cost effective way of providing the hockey club with a community space, without the long term burden of an expensive venue.
The space would be:-
An Administration hub: A welcome meeting point. A communal space for member briefings, team theory training sessions and player registrations for training and competition events.
A shelter for social gatherings. A social area for caregivers and spectators, to congregate and watch the play.
A shelter for fundraising BBQ’s and raffle stalls: The BBQ can now be set up under the shelter, regardless of the weather conditions, ensuring that our junior players can enjoy hot food after training,
This shelter has already created a special space for us to not only stay dry, but stay around longer, chat, share and grow a stronger community.
