Issue 27 of Wyong Regional Chronicle

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August 15, 2013

Issue 27

Centre of Excellence receives $10 million grant he Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence will soon be home to some of Australia’s best indigenous footballers.

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On Monday, August 12, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Senator Bob Carr announced $10 million of federal government funding towards the club’s training base and community hub. Senator Carr was joined by government officials, Mariners representatives, Football Federation Australia administrators, Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) delegates and media at the funding announcement in Tuggerah. After watching Mariners head coach Graham Arnold lead the club’s first team through a preseason session, Senator Carr announced that the grant would help deliver a Hyundai A-League first program enabling talented indigenous players to not only improve their football skills, but also advance their life prospects. “This project is about more than just football,” Senator Carr said. “It’s about providing a sporting, health and education hub that delivers a wide range of benefits for the local community and economy.” Central Coast Mariners Group general manager Mr Peter Turnbull said that the concept to establish the club’s Elite Indigenous

Football Academy had been first discussed with Darkinjung LALC chief executive officer Mr Sean Gordon throughout the Mariners’ 2013 championship winning campaign. “Today’s funding guarantee is the result of 12 months of hard work,” Mr Turnbull said. “We have been to Canberra on several occasions regarding this application, and we are delighted the funding has been finalised. “We feel the Mariners already make a tremendous difference to the lives of many people on the Central Coast, but with our

Elite Indigenous Football Academy we hope to bring forward the days when the Socceroos can boast a strong number of Australia’s first people. “Moreover, this funding will enable us to start work on stage two of the project within weeks. “Without this commitment, it would have taken several years for us to have been able to deliver the extra facilities.” Mr Turnbull said the funding would also help create jobs on the Central Coast over the medium to long term, with a range of individuals and companies from a variety of sectors engaged to help deliver the

project. “This additional investment via the Mariners into the local economy will provide another boost to the local community,” he said. Central Coast Mariners majority owner Mr Michael Charlesworth, who is currently abroad on business, forwarded his thanks to the government and member for Dobell Mr Craig Thomson for assisting in securing the funding. “Our Elite Indigenous Football Academy will be the first of its kind in Australia and will provide talented but disadvantaged indigenous kids the best possible opportunity to realise their dreams of becoming professional footballers,” Mr

Charlesworth said. “I would like to thank Craig, who has worked tirelessly in making this opportunity come about. “Craig has always been a keen supporter of our vision to ensure the Central Coast is Australia’s football leader.” Head of Hyundai A-League Mr Damien de Bohun also attended the announcement. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the future of Central Coast football and the Mariners,” Mr de Bohun said. “Thousands of kids will benefit from this development and to have the inclusion of an Elite Indigenous Football Academy is another great step for the continued growth of football on the

Central Coast.” Mr Thompson said he was proud to have been involved in negotiating the $10 million funding for the Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah. “This is a huge vote of confidence in the future of the Mariners here on the Central Coast,” Mr Thomson said. Stage two of the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence will include a 1,500 seat grandstand, lighting for the training fields and additional car parking. The Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence already features a tournament quality playing field used for first team training and National Youth League matches; coaching and players’ quarters complete with a gym and office space; 10 all-weather synthetic pitches used by the local community and parking for over 100 vehicles. Building for a public hydrotherapy and aquatic centre will be completed next year. The funds for the project are from the latest round of the Regional Development Australia Fund. Funding for this project is already included in the budget. Media release, 12 Aug 2013, Central Coast Mariners

Head Coach Graham Arnold, Central Coast Mariners Group General Manager Peter Turnbull, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Senator Bob Carr with 2013 Federal Election Candidates Deborah O’Neill (Robertson) and Emma McBride (Dobell)

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the Wyong Shire


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