Willoughby City Council have taken a tremendous step in support of their local community this week, offering Northern Suburbs Football Association and other community sporting organisations fee relief for ground hire during 2020.
Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney was on hand to share the good news with Andrew Younan, Chatswood Rangers Sports Club President, and participants from the club’s football and netball programs.
The Mayor was also joined by NSFA Facilities Manager Paul Orgad and NSFA CEO Edward Ferguson at Chatswood High School to celebrate the support.
Willoughby Council have offered four months of ground hire free of charge to seasonal hirers, supporting the local community and enabling Clubs such as Chatswood Rangers to survive the COVID pandemic. The support on offer pleased President Andrew Younan.
“The support offered by council not only allows our Sports Club to survive in 2020; but also allows us to offer support to those in the local community that may not have been able to afford to participate due to individual financial circumstances.”
Mayor Giles-Gidney was pleased to hear that NSFA passed on a reduction in team fees to their member Clubs earlier this year in order to support local communities and ensure football Clubs were able to get back on the park.
“The support from Willoughby Council has been incredible, the impact it will have is not just financial,” Ferguson commented.
“This fee support will enable NSFA and our clubs to continue doing what they do best – connecting with the local community – without the worry and stress that COVID has had financially on many”
Players and parents from Rangers Netball and Football were delighted to hear of the support on offer by the Mayor and thanked Gail, Councillors and staff for their care, empathy and understanding at such a difficult time.
Willoughby Council has been a long-time supporter of football in the region most notably through their investment in local facilities.
“It was very fitting to thank the Mayor at Chatswood High School, a recently constructed synthetic field, with fifty or more children enjoying their football around us,” Ferguson said.
“Willoughby council prioritise their community through supporting community organisations which are the modern cornerstone of society.”
The fee relief will support local football clubs, Northbridge FC, Willoughby Dalleys FC, Chatswood Rangers FC and Lane Cove West. In total these clubs have more than 3,500 playing members in 2020 and make up a large part of the local community so the relief will certainly be felt and appreciated by many.
Paul Orgad was also thankful of the support offered by Council.
“As we embark on our future objective of increasing sportsfield capacity across the region and continue supporting facility development in the LGA, this decision by Willoughby Council gives us greater opportunity to contribute to these much-needed upgrades.
“Without this relief, our ability to invest and improve our community assets would have been hampered for the foreseeable future.
“Full credit must be given to Mayor Giles-Gidney, the Councillors and operational staff.”