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Another Red Letter Day

It was another red letter day for Mirboo North last Thursday when the popular and imposing Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Sport and Recreation officially opened three significant developments in Mirboo North.

By Mirboo North Times - 31st July 2003 - Back to News

Earlier Justin Madden had opened a new skate park in Trafalgar, and went on to open the upgraded Showgrounds in Korumburra. He also inspected Stage One of the Leisure Centre at Leongatha.

The three local facilities opened by Minister Madden were the playground equipment in Baromi Park, the multipurpose facility at Walter J Tuck Reserve, and Mirboo North Golf Club’s irrigation system.

"Can I just say how impressed I was with the turn out today, probably the biggest turnout I’ve ever seen for any playground opening," Justin Madden said at the opening in Baromi Park.

A sixty-seven member Primary School Choir, teachers and parents were largely responsible for this.

In opening the playground equipment, Mr Madden paid tribute to the efforts of the Creative Village Group, playgroup, kindergarten, primary school, and also DATA. Council contributed just over $33,000, while the state government just over $32,000. This theme of a partnership approach to improving community sport and recreation facilities was one he mentioned more than once during his time in Mirboo North.

Earlier, Mayor David Lewis said, "The way that everybody works together is the reason that makes me so proud and honoured to represent the people of Mirboo North, and Grand Ridge, and South Gippsland." Cr Bob Newton also attended at each of the openings.

"This particular project was identified nearly five years ago," the Creative Village’s Liz Morris told the Baromi Park audience. "With patience and persistence we have finally achieved our goal of upgrading the playground equipment and providing much needed shelter from the sun."

Liz Morris thanked people involved with the project, including the Shire’s Andrew Nixon, Manager of Parks and Gardens, local Rotarians who participated in the repainting of existing playground equipment, and local groups who donated money towards the project, the Shire for their support and financial assistance, and also to the State Government through the department of Sport and Recreation for their grant, "which has made this project possible." She also thanked the group members, "who over time have dedicated many hours to the project."

"I think we should all stand proud of what we are achieving for Mirboo North, not just for today but also for tomorrow."

"Like any community, the most important thing is investing in your future," Justin Madden said, shortly before unveiling a commemorative plaque and symbolically cutting a ribbon which encircled the playground equipment.

"This is an investment in that future," the Minister said. "Whether it’s to try and keep people here, bring people here, or to make sure that the young people we see here today holding that ribbon that you enjoy growing up in Mirboo North and appreciate Mirboo North so much that you want to stay here for ever and ever."

A large crowd was also in attendance to watch the ceremony at the Walter J Tuck Reserve. "Our not so humble abode anymore," Joe Piper said, in welcoming the Minister, Mayor Lewis, as well as other officials to the opening. Although President of the football club, he was speaking as a member of the Waler J Tuck Recreation Committee.

Joe said that the main aim of a group formed in 1999 to improve local sporting facilities was "We will never again apologise for our recreation reserve."

He made the point that the construction of the facility was a partnership arrangement, one of whose members was the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE. Joe was proud to announce that every one of the young men from TAFE who had worked on the project were now in paid employment.

He also made the point that one of the big issues in enabling facilities to improve on the reserve was to get sewerage connection.

Speaking at the opening of the irrigation system at the golf club, Justin Madden made the point that the early phase of the Bracks Government had been characterised by social and community developments. The first two openings in Mirboo North had been examples of that.

An emphasis on environmental matters was more recent, and what the golf club had achieved was an example of this. Like the other new facilities, the watering system at the golf club had been made possible by a partnership between different groups, in this case with Gippsland Water, and Eddison Mission, amongst others.

Justin Madden said what the golf club had achieved with its new watering system was one of the first of its type he had seen.

The advantages of such a system was that not as much water is wasted, watering can take place after hours, not as much time is needed, and also it means more water for the Walter J Tuck Reserve for ground watering. It is also cheaper, a win win situation not just for the Golf Club, but for the wider community as well.

As well as direct financial assistance, all three projects were made possible by in-kind, or volunteer support.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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