General News
29 June, 2022
DC Farran’s first night under lights
A NEW era was ushered in at the Mortlake Recreation Reserve last week with the first night-game of football played under lights.
A NEW era was ushered in at theMortlake Recreation Reserve last week with the first night-game of football played under lights.
The Terang-Mortlake Bloods hosted South Warrnambool (U18s) as part of the Western Victoria Female Football League in a historic clash, under lights for the first time thanks to a $470,000 power and lighting upgrade.
The funding was comprised $200,000 allocated from Moyne Shire Council under funding from the Federal Government’s Local Road and Community Infrastructure program, as well as a further $100,000 in council budget funding.
The remaining funding included contributions from the Mortlake Recreation Reserve Committee and user groups, and a unique $100,000 council loan.
The recreation reserve has undergone a number of upgrades in recent years including the development of a multi-purpose indoor facility, new scoreboard and the installation of a new irrigation system.
But with the addition of a power upgrade and 200 Lux lighting, one of the brightest in south west Victoria, the facility had its chance to shine.
Terang and Mortlake team manager Noel McConnell said it was a “historic moment” for the girls to be the first to play under lights at DC Farran Oval.
“They’ve been really pumped up about it,” he said.
“They really enjoy playing on Friday nights but to be doing so on the home ground for the first time is a feather in the cap.
“Families really enjoy it too because we normally play on Sunday at around midday; so by the time they’ve been at the football on Saturday and Sunday, their weekend is gone.
“We’ve found it has been well accepted, and the girls love getting in here under the lights because it’s just got a bit more atmosphere, it gets you pumped up.”
Mr McConnell said he felt the facilities at Mortlake were among the best in the region, and congratulated the Mortlake Recreation Reserve Committee for its dedicated work.
“Everyone involved with the ground has just done a fabulous job,” he said.
“To have got the funding together in such a small community, I think Reid Oval would probably be the only ground with better lighting than us now.”
Moyne Shire Council deputy mayor Daniel Meade said the first game played under lights was a major milestone.
“This first game under lights at Mortlake’s DC Farran Oval is the result of many years of hard work and fundraising by the volunteers on the committee,” he said.
“The new lights are the latest improvements to the oval after recent upgrades to the social and umpires’ rooms, the new indoor training facilities, irrigation systems and new turf wicket and scoreboard.
“The Mortlake community should be proud of the quality of the facility and make full use of this great sporting and social precinct.”
Additional upgrades have been planned at the reserve including improvement of the dressing sheds, social rooms and the netball facilities.
