Room to move

By Lia Bichel
MEN’s and women’s teams are forced to share change rooms at Hallam Recreation Reserve pavilion– meaning game day is often a challenge before the players step foot on the oval.
Footy players at the reserve are urging Casey council to provide funding for additional change rooms to cater for both genders.
Casey Council recently provided $180,000 for an upgrade to the facility, in line with council’s Leisure Facilities and Development Plan (LFDP), for upgraded showers and toilets, a new umpire’s room, external storage and an increased veranda space.
But River Gum Ward Councillor Lynette Keleher asked the council at last week’s council meeting to consider providing separate changerooms, saying teams were desperate for an upgrade.
“They need this to survive,” Cr Keleher said.
She said there was likely to be an increase in women’s teams in the future, so it was important to cater for them now.
Hallam Super Rules Club President Peter Maskiell said the women’s team was passionate about the sport and believed they would continue playing regardless, but said it was only fair to provide them with their own changerooms.
“I think the sport has traditionally been a male dominated sport. But statistics show that senior women’s football is the fastest growing female competition in Australia. Obviously it needs to be supported and we are one of the clubs supporting it,” he said.
“But because we have men and women teams, on some days we have crossover problems. Women need their own change rooms. If they are injured, they need to use the changeroom.
“We have been very careful so far. And sometimes one of the teams has to go elsewhere because we aren’t able to play at home grounds. If there were more changerooms we could have more home games.”
Cr Wayne Smith said he supported the club’s requests.
“We haven’t knocked back their requests. We have stalled the decision so we have more time for consultation,” he said. “The club is saying they are happy with the existing toilets and would rather see the $180,000 go to the change rooms. But I think what they want will require more than $180,000 so hopefully the government will come on board.”
Mr Maskiell said he hoped the rest of council would also offer their support.
“I want the council to acknowledge that female sport is here to stay,” he said. “And they need to support it on a monetary level, the demand’s there.”
City of Casey Manager Sport and Leisure Richard Amon said the funding of $180,000 would upgrade showers and toilets to be unisex in design “which allows them to be used by both males and females which is the standard approach identified in the LFDP and in guidelines listed by the AFL and Football Federation Victoria.”
“Council officers have been working closely with the relevant administrators of the competitions that are held at the reserve to identify a solution to fixture issues in addition to developing a training schedule where there will be no clashes of males and females at the reserve,” Mr Amon said. “The council is extremely supportive of increasing the participation of females in football and cricket and is very pleased that many clubs continue to develop opportunities for females to play sport.”