Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Saturday night I had a fantastic night at the opening of the Emerald Sporting Club's new pavilion. This was an election commitment back in 2013 for $500,000, but club members and donors through the Australian Sports Foundation contributed $100,000—truly an amazing effort. We also thank Bendigo Bank for $50,000. The club members have turned this money into at least a $2 million project.

I must thank Bill Kuys, the president and project manager, for the fantastic work he has done in leading this project with his wife, Robyn. Also on the committee is Kris Strong, who is the VP; Jacquie Morris, who is the treasurer; Mick Huisintveld, who is the building manager—he committed 1,000 hours of voluntary labour; and committee members Steve and Kaye Livermore, Gary Santini, Ross Macumber, Graham Steer, Jamie Campbell and Paul Reilly. They have done an incredible job at this facility. It is something that the whole Emerald community can be so proud of. The most amazing thing about this project is that not one cent was paid for a person's salary. The club and the local community chipped in to turn the old clubrooms, which were very sad and very tired, into something spectacular. They are now the benchmark in the hills, and other clubs will need to follow in their footsteps.