Boxwood Hill Combined Sports Club celebrates big win after sports rorts scandal

A four-year fight for funding has ended in a win for the Boxwood Hill Combined Sports Club after it secured a $500,000 boost from the Federal Government to revamp its facilities. The club was named one of three community infrastructure projects to receive a slice of about $8 million in Federal Government funding last week as part of the latest round of Building Better Regions grants. Jerramungup secured a $2 million boost to repair its local swimming pool and $5.2 million went to Ravensthorpe to start work on its cultural precinct. Boxwood Hill CSC president Jarrod King said the committee hoped to turn the sod within six months. “It’s the hub of our community,” Mr King said. “In our region we don’t have a town or a pub as such. “So it is great to have this facility for people to get together, socialise and get away from the troubles of the world.” The club is home to all-ages football, hockey, netball and tennis. The club will give many of its facilities a facelift, including the creation of two new football changerooms, ablution blocks for spectators and a female changing area. It has been a rocky road to funding for the club, which was caught up in last year’s national “sports rorts” scandal when the club’s Federal Government funding application was rejected by then sports minister, Senator Bridget McKenzie. The club was one of many that missed out on grants when the Sports Australia merit-based assessment process was overlooked to prioritise funding in marginal and target seats leading into last year’s May Federal election. O’Connor MP Rick Wilson said the funding would provide much-needed support. “These game-changing projects will transform communities and help ensure our productive and vibrant region remains strong, resilient and prosperous in the long term and I look forward to seeing these projects boost economic prosperity,” he said.