TH KING OVAL TO BE REDEVELOPED

The State Government and Stonnington Council today announced that TH King Oval in Glen Iris – home of St Kevin’s Old Boys – is to receive funding for a $3 million development that will see the ground become the envy of many in the area. 
The project will see a brand new pavillion replace the current dated version in time for the start of the 2014 season. 
Victorian Government Minister for Sport and Recreation Mr Hugh Delahunty and local MP and Minister for Gaming, Consumer Affairs, Energy and Resources Mr Michael O’Brien both spoke at the announcement about the Victorian Government’s pursuit of providing better community facilities for local sports clubs. 
Mr O’Brien used the pun, “As we sit here at TH King Oval, it’s hardly fit for a King but it will be!” to help launch the announcement.
Also present was the Mayor of Stonnington, Matthew Koce and many of the councillors of Stonnington who have worked to get this project off the ground. 
Stonnington council are the largest financial contributors to the project with an investment of over $2 million. The State Government will invest $650,000, AFL Victoria will contribute $75,000 and St Kevin’s Old Boys Football club are contributing $50,000 towards the project. 
The surface has also been recently relayed at TH King at a cost of close to $200,000 and St Kevin’s should soon have a facility the envy of many VAFA clubs. 
The new facility will more than double the size of the current change rooms, include space for a gym, almost triple the size of the social room, provide under cover terraced seating, provide separate change rooms for both male and females, allow St Kevin’s to have a permanent display area for club honour boards, trophies and sponsors, and on top of all this it will be an eco friendly building with an environmental education centre. 
As St Kevin’s Old Boys President Dean Staffieri said, “We arrived here 3 years ago on a promise that the facilities that we were hoping for would eventuate, and today we see the fruits of the collaboration and participation that have made this happen.” 
VAFA President Michael Hazell was also present for the announcement and said, “This will be a fantastic facility, full credit must go to St Kevin’s for the bold vision and work to get this project happening.”
Other beneficiaries of the development include the Glen Iris Junior Football Club and the Glen Iris Cricket Club.
To see full details of the announcement and hear more from the government ministers, Stonnington Council and St Kevin’s be watching the next VAFA TV News where a feature story will be presented.