One Highlands soccer club is set to receive a generous grant from the NSW Government.
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Following a successful season, Robertson-Burrawang Rovers Soccer Club have topped off 2019 with news that the NSW Government recently announced the recipients of the August 2019 Club grants Category three Infrastructure Grants and Robertson-Burrawang Rovers Soccer Club was on the list.
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Registrar of the Robertson-Burrawang Rovers Soccer Club, Kate Van Eimeren was ecstatic on hearing the news.
"This $129k grant will see a nearly decade long effort to extend the Hampden Park clubhouse realised," Ms Van Eimeren said.
"Long term executive committee members, president Damien Plain and treasurer Rob Handley have held their positions for the life of the dream and they will be well satisfied to see it through to fruition.
"In their time at the helm of the club they have turned it around and have worked hard to accumulate a decent sized term deposit over the years to support a grant application.
"Former committee member Shane Macgraw also solidified the dream of extending the facilities to support the volume of players attending Hampden Park each season."
This isn't the first time the club has applied for a grant. They have suffered failure, but have re-grouped and bounced back with the hard work now reaping reward.
"In recent years the committee have worked towards applying for a grant," Ms Van Eimeren said.
"There was a failed attempt in 2018 which was disappointing, but the committee wasn't to be deterred and the 2019 August application was submitted with high hopes and they have been fulfilled."
The grant will go towards a refurbishment of the clubhouse at Hampden Park, and there are some big plans on the horizon.
"The extensions will see the addition of two change rooms so that all big field teams will have access to a change room," Ms Van Eimeren said.
"There will also be a dedicated officials room so that match officials have a separate area to change and store their belongings whilst officiating matches.
"The store room shared with the Robertson Cricket Club will be replaced with two separate store rooms which will hopefully free up some personal garage space for both clubs.
"The extension will allow for a completely new canteen which is long overdue and will please not only our faithful canteen volunteers, but also those of various schools in the region who use the park for sporting events."
The Robertson Rovers won't be wasting time with this grant. They will look to get to work and have these upgrades ready to go for 2020.
"There are efforts now to finalise drawings and other council requirements in the hope we can commence the project in January 2020 and have ready for 2020 kick off," Ms Van Eimeren said.
"We would like to give great thanks to the NSW Government for their generous grant, Mauger Constructions for their patience and the committee and volunteers past and present for their efforts toward this goal.
"We're very much looking forward to the opening, but for the near future, our continuing major fundraiser Thursday night Joker Jackpot, raffle and pool competition will be held at the Robertson Bowling Club and if you'd like a handy $6,800 for Christmas, you know where to be on Thursday nights!"