The La Trobe University Hockey Club (LTUHC) was very happy to have the Labor Candidate for the Federal seat of Batman visit the club today to inspect their ageing facilities.
“David Feeney (pictured far right with life member Travis Dowling) is a strong supporter of grass roots community sport and was very impressed by the enormous work that LTUHC has undertaken to attract students and families from challenged socio-economic backgrounds to become involved in sport” club President Zac Martin said.
“The La Trobe University hockey club now has over 300 Members, including 5 Senior Women’s teams, 7 Men’s teams and 3 Junior teams in the Victorian Hockey Association. We are the biggest competitive sports club at La Trobe University and attract players from across the local community including Reservoir, Kingsbury, Preston, Thornbury, Northcote and most of the northern suburbs.”
Mr Feeney visited the dilapidated club rooms and ground that the club currently use at KP Hardiman Reserve and toured the inadequate change facilities and lack of bathrooms and noted an absence of shelter for players and spectators.
Mr Feeney was impressed by the business case prepared by the club and which is supported by local State Members of Parliament which makes a clear case for two new synthetic turfs and change facilities on campus at La Trobe, creating a ‘sports hub’ in the north for the community to really benefit from.
La Trobe University is the only major University in Victoria that does not have synthetic fields on campus for student sport such as hockey.
“We are a grass roots sporting club that was established in 1967. We cater for junior teams, and are strong advocates for promoting women in sport and cultural diversity. The Club also has low fees to enable students and disadvantaged residents in the northern suburbs to participate in sport.” said Mr Martin.
“We would really like to thank David Feeney for visiting today and for his support for grass roots community sport in Melbourne’s north.”