We have updated our original article of 21 January with more detail about the grant.

The Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today announced a grant of $466,000 towards the update of the female and accessible facilities at the clubhouse at Gerry Emery Oval in Gerringong.

In making the announcement, he congratulated club stalwart John Trevenar for his hard work and perseverance in getting this project across the line.

In a previous Bugle article from January 10 which detailed the sporting memorabilia fundraising auction [Sporting heroes' memorabilia supports clubhouse upgrade], Mr Ward noted that “there were a number of sources of funding available for upgrades like the ones planned in Gerringong.”

Ten days later, he presents the club with nearly half a million dollars.

Mr Ward with John Trevenar

“This money is not a campaign promise,” Mr Ward said, “it’s money in the bank.

“I’m really pleased that the State Government could make this contribution and I now hope that the Federal Government will match it.”

This money for the Gerry Emery oval comes from the $160m NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 and is one of 530 successful projects across Regional NSW to receive a share.

Past President of the Gerringong Breakers Soccer Club, Javid Sadrnia, put in the grant application the minute approval for the Development Application was received from Council last year.

The money will go from the State Government directly to Kiama Council, who will administer the project.

John says that he started this project 20 months ago and intends to project manage it until it’s finished.

“I’m doing all this for my community. For nothing, no financial gain. I haven’t asked for one cent from anyone on this project,” he says.

He’s hoping that by end of January/early February the association will have $600,000 plus.

“If all the locals pay $1 for a brick, we could raise thousands,” he says.

The cost of the whole project is in the region of $1.3 million.

Bids are still being taken for the three items, an Australian Socceroos 2022 signed Qatar jersey, a surfboard owned and ridden by champion Sally Fitzgibbons and Mick Cronin’s 1983 match work NSW Blues State of Origin jersey.