• PHOTO: Acting Manager of Economic Development and Growth, David Levick (right) gives representatives of local women’s football clubs, Nancy Forgione (Castlereagh Cougars) and Jacinta Murray (Coonamble Rams) a sneak peak of the upgrades to Coonamble Sportsground facilities.
By MARNIE RYAN
SPORTSWOMEN and girls across the shire can expect to see some improvements to local facilities with the Coonamble Shire Council receiving more than $1 million in funding for upgrades under the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities and Female Friendly Community Sport Facilities Program.
Gulargambone sportsground facilities will see $520,000 while $491,850 will be spent on facility upgrades at the Coonamble Sportsground.
NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said it is great to see the Coonamble Shire Council prioritising women in sport in both Coonamble and Gulargambone.
“Part of the $1 million will be used to upgrade the current changerooms and toilet facilities at Coonamble Sportsground, making them suitable for use by women’s sporting teams in both winter and summer.
“In addition, facility upgrades will include reconstruction to the changerooms and amenities and the addition of canteen facilities at Gulargambone Sportsground.
“The upgrades will cater to local and regional competitions across a variety of sporting codes, including rugby league, rugby union, junior cricket, junior soccer and Little Athletics.
“This funding will make a real difference to the sporting community in Coonamble Shire, making our sports facilities more inclusive and welcoming to all athletes, and I am excited to see the positive impact they will have on the community.”
Coonamble Senior Rugby League Assistant Secretary Nancy Forgione says the current changerooms only cater towards male football players.
“The changerooms at the Coonamble Sportsground are outdated. They lack privacy for female players, mothers, and female watchers of football games,” Mrs Forgione said.
“Female players are currently getting changed and going to the toilet in male facilities. Our ladies league tag side has only male coaches, meaning the girls also lose a lot of important talk time before games and during half time break to chat strategy and game play.
The Coonamble Sportsground is home to not only the Coonamble Bears Ladies League Tag side, but also the Coonamble touch football teams, Ladies Rugby Union and women’s rugby league side, the Castlereagh Cougars.
“It would be great to see upgrades to the current changerooms to be more female- friendly. The girls need to have both showers and toilets with individual cubicles for privacy, as well as female hygiene product disposal units in each toilet.
“By making these changes, it will bring more female football players, watchers and visitors to town and ultimately make female players feel comfortable and included within what is now not just a male, but a female dominated sport”.
Coach for Ladies Coonamble Rams side Jacinta Murray, says the female friendly upgrades are a step in the right direction for female sporting sides.
“These upgrades are important to be equipped for all women, as women in sport is growing increasingly common.
“We need to have better changing facilities – not just for our team, but our opposing teams that travel long distances to play.
“We want them to be able to hang around after the game has finished and enjoy getting ready before heading out to our sponsor club, the Coonamble Golf Club,” Miss Murray said.
“The current change rooms are very ‘traditional male’ facilities with open showers with no privacy.
“A high percentage of women do not want to use our current change rooms, and instead rush home after playing a game to get ready before coming back to the sports ground to support the rest of the men’s game.
“In the new upgrade, there should be showers and toilets with lockable doors, including a bench for players to change within that space to increase privacy for women. It should include sanitary disposal bins, mirrors, shelving and hanging space.
“Having a nice facility for the general public is very important.
“Mothers of young children that support our club should be recognised in the new upgrades,” Ms Murray said.
“Currently, there is not a suitable area or changeroom available to take babies and young children with complete privacy.
“I hope mothers have been considered in the new upgrades,” she said.
The matter has already been raised by Councillor Barbara Deans at the March council meeting in Gulargambone.
“The upgrades include new changerooms for the females, but is there any thought of a mothers room anywhere in there?” she asked.
“Considering the little baby boom we’ve been having and the idea that the sporting facility will be female friendly, I am wondering whether there is room for a mothers room.”
Coonamble Shire Council Mayor Tim Horan said the sporting facility upgrades are welcome news for both Coonamble and Gulargambone communities.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to upgrade our sports facilities and make them more accessible to players and in particular, our female athletes,” Mr Horan said.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide a more inclusive and comfortable environment for all athletes, and we thank the NSW Government for their support.”