Thursday, 29 August 2024

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (09:43): We all know local sport is essential for any community, and my community is no exception. We are very lucky to have many wonderful community sports right throughout the Niddrie electorate, and I want to pay tribute today to the Keilor Sports Club, which is one of them. The club oversees football, cricket and athletics, bringing various communities and families together. At the beginning of this month I got the opportunity to visit Keilor Sports Club to get an update on their very important Keilor Recreation Reserve renovation. David, Sandy, Brad, Kevin, Steve and Lachie from the building subcommittee, as well as Hayden Kelly, the president of the club, talked me through their plans. This is all part of the commitment we made more than a year ago to a $700,000 investment in the Keilor Sports Club to redevelop its clubrooms, which are a hub for over 1000 people in the local community.

I have got many fond memories myself, whether of playing against Keilor Football Club, a very strong club, or even of doing Keilor Little Athletics at the football club. One of my favourite things by far is the art deco fireplace, and I am very pleased that that will be saved and, most importantly, continue to be used as part of the important redevelopment.

I want to pay tribute today to Mick McGuane, the famous Mick McGuane from Collingwood. He coached 300 games at the Keilor Football Club, an incredible achievement. In fact he is the first ever coach to coach 300 games in Essendon District Football League history. Some 219 players have played under his watch in his 17-year career, and they got to present him with a wonderful, special jersey last weekend. Congratulations to the club and Mick. I cannot wait to see the future.