Update: The Santa Teresa Oval will host its first match for CAFL Country League Premiership points since its re-grassing on Sunday August 1, when the Ltyentye Apurte Football Club and their Community Men’s and Community Under 18s Men’s sides take on Titjikala, Laramba and Plenty Highway respectively.
The Oval officially launched on June 3 to the Lytente Apurte community in Santa Teresa, holding an AFL Northern Territory junior clinic and an intra-club exhibition match.The Oval’s project and its planning began back in 2017, with the benefits of a grassed oval aimed to decrease the respiratory and ocular health risks of playing on a dusty surface, and increase participation across men, women and children across the community.
The MCC Foundation, the philanthropic arm to the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), who act as ground managers of the MCG, are major partners of the project.
Further to financial contributions and ongoing turf consultancy being provided by MCG Executive Manager of Turf, Michael Salvatore, the Foundation this year donated MCG-size goal posts as well as an MCG grass mower to ensure the ground’s maintenance.
CEO of Atyenhenge Athere Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC) – the project leaders of the Oval’s re-grassing – Ellie Kamara, said there will be enormous pride for the community in hosting this weekend’s matches.
“The oval is busy every day with the school children making the most of the grassed surface at interval and lunchtime, and from the time school finishes until late into the evening,” Ms Kamara said.
“The teams are very excited to be hosting this weekend’s matches, and the Men’s teams have been practicing most nights, also making good use of the oval lights which were donated by the traditional owners.
“The whole community is very proud to have the oval on display for other communities, and we look forward to great day on Sunday.”
The Ltyenties Community Men’s Senior Team sit mid-table after four matches of the CAFL Country League season to date.
They do carry some silverware-winning form, taking a Grand Final win at the Barunga Festival – a three-day music, culture and sport event held 80km south-east of Katherine – in June. The first home match on the new Oval was scheduled for late-June, but was unfortunately postponed due to the COVID-19 snap lockdown in the Greater Alice Springs region.