By Stacey French
The Kawana Park Eagles players amenities are now officially open!
Sunshine Coast, Division Three Councillor, Peter Cox, officially opened the facility alongside representatives from Kawana Waters State College and AFL Queensland.
The $400,000.00 project was made possible through the Queensland State Government Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Program rolled out in 2011.
The mastermind behind the vision, planning, funding application and completed facility was former Kawana Park President, Paul Meehan.
“It has been a huge project from start to finish and I have a lot of people to thank and of whom none of it would have been possible without,” Meehan said.
“Being involved in the journey of the Junior AFL Club is something that I am very proud of and if you told me eleven years ago, where the Club would be today I would have been highly doubtful.”
Meehan opened official proceedings recognising everyone who contributed to the project on some scale, reminiscing, and the vision that became a reality.
“I remember four weeks before the funding applications were open, myself, Paul Williamson and Deb Egan from Kawana Waters State College, David O’Leary, Paul Tresise and Stacey French from AFL Queensland, Jarrod Bleijie from State Government and Local Councillor Keryn Jones stood just to the side of where this building now stands…”
“That was the beginning of what is now a fantastic community sport and recreation facility on the Sunshine Coast.”
Councillor Peter Cox commended Paul Meehan and the Club on their achievements to date astounded by what had been achieved and the volunteer power behind the scenes.
“This building and this Club is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when you have so many valuable volunteers working together to get kids in our community active,” Councillor Cox said.
“The relationship that has been built here between the school and this AFL Club is something to be proud of and again demonstrates the forward moving nature of the Kawana Park Eagles and everyone in this room.”
The Players Amenities located at Kawana Park on Kawana Waters State College will provide a solid home base for the Eagles and a valuable resource for the College to integrate into their school based activity.
AFL Queensland State Infrastructure Planning Manager, Jacob Anson said that the players’ amenities will strengthen community relationships within the region and provide a valuable resource for AFL development on the Sunshine Coast.
“Kawana Park have worked in conjunction with Kawana Waters State College to make this facility along with field lighting happen in a relatively short period of time with great success,” Anson said.
“It is a credit to the volunteers at the Club, the school and Education Queensland for formulating a mutually beneficial partnership that has proved this fantastic community facility.
“It was great to be at Kawana Park for the official opening of the facility and to see the club in full-swing with the Under 8s and Under 10s carnival underway as well… clearly the facility is going to be well used for 12 months of the year.”
Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland commitment, to make Queenslanders the nation’s healthiest people.
