Fish Creek Football Netball Club has been named a recipient of the 2026 Woolworths Netball Grants program, receiving $2,000 to support its netball operations as the club continues to rebuild following the arson attack that destroyed its facilities in November 2023. The funding will go toward essential equipment, uniforms and iPads for scoring, results and player registration.
Club president Travis Manne said the grant was warmly welcomed. "This season we had teams in all seven grades of the Mid Gippsland League, as well as Under 11 teams in the Leongatha and District Netball Association. There is always a lot of excitement around the netball courts, on game day and at training, so it's fantastic to get this funding to support the continued growth of the sport at Fish Creek."
Despite the challenges of operating without a permanent home since the attack, membership and participation at Fish Creek have both increased, a remarkable demonstration of community resilience and the club's importance to the district.
Manne said the rebuild remained the club's primary off-field focus, but that keeping programs running in the meantime was equally important. "We have to keep moving forward on the netball court and footy ground to make sure we're providing sporting opportunities for future generations. Having access to grant opportunities such as this will certainly help us do that."
