Woodend Netball Scores Big With Brand New Courts
Netball in Woodend has reached a game-changing milestone, with the completion of two new state-of-the-art netball courts at Gilbert Gordon Oval, made possible by more than $980,000 in Victorian Government funding.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas officially opened the redeveloped courts on Saturday, 14 June 2025, alongside representatives from Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Woodend Hesket Football Netball Club (WHFNC) and the Woodend Junior Football Netball Club (WJFNC) celebrating a major win for local sport.
With more than 190 women and girls participating in netball at Gilbert Gordon Oval from juniors through to seniors, the redevelopment answers a long-awaited call for facilities that meet the needs of our growing community.
The upgrades include:
Two new full-size, competition-ready netball courts
200 lux LED lighting for evening training and matches
Player and scorer shelters
Spectator shelter with seating
Electronic scoreboards
Connecting pathways
These high-quality facilities mean local netballers now have the perfect base for training, match days, and community events, while also providing a fantastic space for schools and local groups to enjoy netball and physical activity close to home.
Speaking at the event, WHFNC representative Anne-Louise Lindner reflected on the project’s six-year journey from idea to reality:
“Today marks a special day for our club. Projects like this take more than just money. They take vision, leadership, strong partnerships, time, and a lot of patience. Standing here now, we know it was all worth it.”
The project was identified as a first-year action in the 2019–2023 Strategic Plan of both the senior and junior clubs and remained the clubs’ top infrastructure priority throughout.
Funding support came from a range of contributors:
Victorian Government – $980,000+
Macedon Ranges Shire Council – $310,000
WHFNC, WJFNC, 2MH Consulting, local community – $70,000 (cash and in-kind)
Australian Government – $20,000 (Stronger Communities Grant)
AFL Victoria TAC Club Rewards Program – $5,500
Netball Victoria Worksafe Club Safety Fund – $1500 Support for new goal post padding
The courts now represent the kind of facility most clubs only dream of - a space that supports increased participation, encourages more women and girls into sport, and strengthens the local sporting community.
A Tribute to Dedication
Behind every successful community project is a group of tireless volunteers. The club particularly acknowledged the incredible work of 2MH Consulting, who provided design, construction, budgeting, and project management services in-kind.
But it was a surprise announcement from Club Co-President James Chettle that drew the loudest applause of the day. As a tribute to the driving force behind the project, court one was officially named the Kellie Duff Court, honouring a long-standing volunteer whose leadership, persistence, and hands-on efforts ensured this vision became a reality.
From patching the old court to advocating with council, from late-night calls to early-morning court preparations - Kellie’s commitment has left a permanent legacy at the club she loves.
“Whether it was melting ice off the old court with a hairdryer or making sure every last dollar was well spent, Kellie’s passion has never wavered. This is a fitting recognition of her years of tireless work.”
With the official opening complete and teams already training on the new surface, the future looks bright for netball in Woodend.
“The new netball facilities at Gilbert Gordon Oval open up more opportunities for youngsters keen to follow in the footsteps of their Super Netball heroes to sign up and play the game they love,” said Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas.
The new courts are already in action for the 2025 season - delivering the ideal space for players of all ages and skill levels to grow, compete, and thrive.
