The hinterland football club has secured $350k for new changerooms
The Maleny Rangers Football Club has secured its $350,000 State Government grant to improve facilities and make them more inclusive, following a successful community-led fundraising effort.
Club president Dr Sam Manger said the club was required to contribute $85,000 of its own funds by August 14 or risk losing the grant. While the club had already banked $35,000, it needed to raise an additional $50,000 within a matter of months.
“Many generous businesses from the community offered excellent prizes for a raffle and Get Active Gym held a fundraising event,” Dr Manger said.
“A combination of community local sponsorship from organisations like APEX and the Lions Club, from community fundraisers, and we were successful in two other grants. It’s inspiring to know the community spirit is still alive and well – community connection is the antidote to the existential crisis many of us feel.”
The grant will fund new changerooms for the club’s growing number of female players.
“New changerooms would mean we have changerooms for both men and women home and away teams, hence they will not have to share,” Dr Manger said.
He added that the existing clubhouse lacked adequate facilities for women and girls, which limited their comfort and participation during training and matches.
Dr Manger said the club was continuing to fundraise for broader clubhouse upgrades, including improvements to the men’s changerooms, structural repairs, new paintwork and the addition of an outdoor social bar.
“We want to make the clubhouse and our games an engaging event for our community,” he said.
