The new pavilion rising out of the sporting fields at Shepparton’s Vibert Reserve is worlds away from what its multiple new tenants have been living in for years and, in some cases, decades.
South Shepparton Community Centre, Karramomus Cricket Club, Shepparton Rugby Union Club and Shepparton Soccer Club will all call the new Archer St facility home after it was officially opened on Friday, February 3.
The Vibert Reserve Pavilion opened to the public this week, and community centre president Mheganne Lumsden was gobsmacked the first time she walked in the doors.
Her colleague and community centre manager Dawn Taylor said she “thought about having to get roller skates” to get from one end to the other.
"It's just so beautiful and so purpose built because Mheganne and I had input into what we wanted, and we've got everything we wanted,“ Mrs Taylor said.
“From the little house that we came from, it's been really exciting and the community is really looking forward to it.
“We've got plenty of space to hold all our programs and we'll end up having more programs.”
The programs have already been given a boost by the new building, with the centre’s FoodShare program expanding.
“We used to have food stored everywhere under the tables and in corners and now we've got a beautiful new area where we can store it,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Even the short time that we've been here we've seen faces come in for FoodShare that we've never seen before.”
The centre also helps alleviate loneliness and cost of living pressures, with a room available for people unable to afford heating or cooling in winter and summer.
The community centre’s old building in Service St was deemed not fit for purpose nearly three years ago, sending a “devastated” Ms Lumsden and Mrs Taylor scrambling for a new home for the 35-year-old organisation.
“The old centre was a 60-year-old Commission house and it was in terrible condition, really, really poor,” Ms Lumsden said.
“I made a vow then I wasn’t going to be the president who was in charge when the community centre folded, because the centre has given so much not just to the people of south Shepparton but right across the whole area over 37 years now.”
After “many, many sleepless nights”, Greater Shepparton City Council stepped in to help move the centre in with the three community clubs at Vibert Reserve.
One of those clubs, Shepparton Rugby Union Club, will benefit through new facilities — including change rooms for the girls in the mixed under-13 side, who previously didn’t have anywhere to get changed.
Club vice-president Maka Atu said the new facilities would also give spectators a place to stand on cold, rainy winter days and it would help make the club more of a destination, with several competing clubs not wanting to travel to Shepparton due to the facilities in previous seasons.
Club junior coordinator Tim Rhind said it would be a boon for junior sides as well, with more facilities for change rooms to attract more people to the sport operating well outside its heartland.
“It also gives us the opportunity to run a canteen instead of a barbecue under the gazebo, which we did last year,” he said.
“We’ll be able to set it up properly so that you can actually make a bit of an income for the club as well on a Saturday.”
Karramomus Cricket Club president Nathan Delahey said it was a “really positive mood” for the club.
“The boys are keen to hang around again after cricket now and it’s nice to have somewhere to come to have afternoon tea again during the game.”
The $4 million project was delivered by council and the Federal Government, with $3 million coming from the local roads and infrastructure program.
Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said he was delighted to see the centre open.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell said he played under-14 football at Vibert Reserve and remembered getting changed in a “tin shack”.
“It’s a really modern facility and recognises men and women are playing similar sports and deserve to be treated with respect,” he said.
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