Allansford-Panmure officially launches new five-lane training nets

Allansford-Panmure Cricket Club treasurer Michael Smith officially opened its new facility on Monday, welcoming groups, companies and people, such as Simon Rea, Ron Sheen and Tim McDonald, who invested time and labour into the $130,000 project.

The Gators have been using the five nets, which replaced an outdated three-net version, since December.

"We're growing as a club, we have lots of numbers in the juniors, especially with the merger of Allansford and Panmure," Smith said.

"The juniors get a hit and a bowl every week whereas in the old nets it wasn't happening; we couldn't fit them in so they'd rotate on the ground and the next week they'd swap over and get through the nets.

"Now everyone can get in. The girls are a big part of it now too. We have three junior sides for the girls and they get a crack at it in here now."

Smith said the nets were fully retractable and also enabled the club to set up fielding drills.

"It is an amazing facility, especially on a Thursday night when you see all five lanes full," he said.

"It allows us all to train as a big group and makes a big difference to the vibe and energy of the place.

"On Thursday night the coaches set up a camera and we had throwdowns with six of the under 17 juniors and had two coaches with a bit of video.

"It just never would've happened in the past; we just didn't have the room to do it whereas the other four nets housed what seniors and juniors we had there on the night."

The project was a collaborative effort between groups and companies which "invest in the community and make sure cricket survives and thrives".

Saputo Dairy Australia, Cricket Victoria, Jones Foundation, Uebergang Foundation, Allansford Recreation Reserve and the cricket club all contributed.

"The final figure is still not quite finalised but it cost about $130,000 and we had about $110,000 funded and the rest we fund raised," Smith said.

Allansford-Panmure president Steve Aberline said the Gators were proud of their home ground.

"We are very family and community orientated. We take pride in the fact we are one of the very, very few reserves/sporting clubs that plan, build and maintain all of our facilities ourselves," he said.

"This is done through many volunteer hours and means we keep control of how the reserve and its facilities are presented."

Saputo contributed $20,000 through its legacy program.

"The Allansford township is in the heartland of Saputo's operations in south-west Victoria with many employees and farmer suppliers either living close by or involved in the club," Director of operations Gerard Lourey said.

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