Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (10:22): Football fever has certainly been in the air, with both the world game and our very own Aussie rules. I have had lots of fun celebrating ladies days at Oak Park, Hadfield and Coburg districts; reverse draws at Glenroy and Oak Park; home games at Upfield Soccer Club; the inaugural car park derby between Glenroy Lions and Moreland Eagles; Hume’s magnificent Festival of Football; Hadfield footy club’s road safety forum; and even a soccer tournament hosted by the World Lebanese Cultural Union. Let us not forget the other codes: I love getting down to our magnificent rugby centre of excellence at Seabrook Reserve, and it was an honour to open NRL Victoria’s female footy festival last Sunday. Back to the round balls, it was great to celebrate Italy’s foundation as a republic at the Italian Golf Association’s annual Coppa Italia golf tournament. I really enjoyed watching our men and women’s Broncos give it their best at Broady stadium, and it is always special to be part of Fawkner Netball Club’s end-of-year celebration and presentation night. Thank you to all the clubs for inviting me to come along.

Sporting clubs are the lifeblood of our communities, and I thank all the volunteers who turn up week after week to ensure local people have the chance to connect and to get active. The sporting clubs grant program is open again, and I thank the Minister for Community Sport for joining me to announce recent grant winners: the Somerton All Stars basketball club; Eritrean Families in Hume and the North; and the Fawkner Saints, for whom we also got to see the new lights installed, which will make a huge difference to the club.