Construction will finally begin on the first-ever female changing sheds at Gerry Emery Reserve on Bridges Road, Gerringong on Monday 29 January by local builder DES Constructions.

It has been an ongoing issue for the oval, which is used by at least six sporting organisations including the Gerringong Breakers soccer club and the Gerringong Jets cricket team. To this day, female players are forced to change in cars or behind trees. 

The number of women using the oval is estimated at up to 4000 per year.

President of the Gerringong All Sports Club, John Trevenar told The Bugle "We have about 4000 women from different sports who use these fields in a 12 month period, and they have never had a female changing shed.”

The current All Sports Club was built around 40 years ago and was built with only one changing room.

He said Cricket Australia and NSW Sports provided about half a million in funding, but that will not be enough to finish the project.

John is very grateful to the many local sponsors such as Gerringong Hardware, which has stepped up and contributed to make the project a reality.

The new changing shed will also include additional toilets and referee changing rooms, including a room designed to be accessible for amputee referees.

John also wants to thank the many sponsors including Austin McMahon with his excavator, Gerringong Hardware, Gerringong Physio, Dulux Paint, Cronin Liquor and the many locals and businesses directly contributing their labor and their materials to turn the project into a reality. 

You can follow the future progress on the build, and the sponsors, on the Facebook Page Gerringong District All Sports Inc Page.