Work begins on Punt Road Ovalrichmondfc.com.au
By Adrian Ceddia | Tue 25 August, 2009
Richmond Football Club has officially launched the construction of the $20 million redevelopment of Punt Road Oval.
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Julia Gillard, had a tour of the Club’s current facilities at a special function last Saturday and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for the project.
“This is a very special partnership to redevelop Punt Road Oval, and it’s something the Australian Government has been proud to contribute $6.75 million towards,” she said.
“One of the reasons we’ve done that is we know these new facilities are going to make a contribution to closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.”
A feature of the new facility is the Australian Institute for Indigenous Learning and Skills Development, to be named Korin Gamadji, which means ‘grow and emerge’.
The Institute will help close the gap for indigenous youth and young people by offering education and employment opportunities.
Outgoing Richmond CEO Steven Wright described the redevelopment as a “great football and community facility”.
“We started off with the board back in 2005 and we said we had to get these facilities back on track,” he said.
“With the support of Gary (March) and the board we’ve been able to talk to the Federal Government and get their fantastic support. The State Government has chipped in two amounts and the City of Melbourne and the AFL have also helped out.”
Senior Elder of the Wurundjeri Tribe, Aunty Joy Murphy, was also present at last Saturday’s launch to perform a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony.
“We hope that our indigenous people, our community, our players and the broader community, will grow and emerge much stronger than when they’ve started off in their lives,” she said.
“That’s what we see as the positives here at the new institute.”
The new facility at Punt Road Oval is due for completion toward the end of 2010.
Built over three levels, the facility will feature a community gym, indoor sports centre, meeting rooms, lecture theatre and a new museum, plus a state-of-the-art football department.
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