MEDIA RELEASE

WALLY TEW RESERVE TRANSFORMATION OPENS NEW ERA FOR LOCAL SPORT

Community football and cricket in Ferntree Gully have a new home ground advantage with the completion of the Wally Tew Reserve pavilion transformation.

Member for Monbulk Daniela De Martino today joined the Ferntree Gully Blues Cricket Club at its Pink Fundraising Day to officially open the upgrades, made possible by a $2 million Victorian Government investment.

Home to almost 700 members from the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and the Ferntree Gully Eagles Football Netball Club, the previous small and ageing pavilion was struggling to cope with growing demand.

The upgrade modernises the old pavilion, expanding the two-storey building to include two new change rooms and an umpire change room, each with amenities suitable for women and girls, and new accessible and public amenities.

The first floor also features a bigger balcony off the social room and new accessible amenities. There’s also been new painting and upgrades to the kitchen and kiosk including a gas to electric conversion.

It’s now not only a bigger and better home for local sport but will also provide new spaces for nearby schools and community groups to gather, stage events and run local programs.

The Victorian Budget 2025/26 is providing $20 million to support the development of high-quality, accessible community sports infrastructure across the state, including through the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

This brings the Victorian Government’s investment in community sport and active recreation infrastructure to more than $2.4 billion since 2014. From oval redevelopments to new pavilions, investments like these are all about creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.

Daniela De Martino MP acknowledged Knox City Council for its $1.2 million contribution and commitment to delivering the project, as well as acknowledging the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and Ferntree Gully Eagles Football Netball Club who contributed almost $38,000 each to the project.

For more information about infrastructure grant opportunities available through the Victorian Government visit sport.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Monbulk Daniela De Martino

“The newly transformed Wally Tew pavilion gives the Ferntree Gully cricket, football and netball clubs the space they need to grow - including fit‑for‑purpose amenities for women and girls. This upgrade at Wally Tew Reserve will make an enormous difference for players, volunteers and families for many years to come. I am thrilled we could work with Knox City Council and the clubs to bring this fantastic upgrade to life.”