The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Foundation, as a major partner of the project, is delighted to officially launch the newly-grassed Santa Teresa Oval, in partnership with the Melbourne Football Club and the Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC).
While the Victorian COVID-19 situation has forced changes to the originally scheduled Melbourne v Brisbane Lions Round 12 AFL match at Alice Springs’ Traeger Park this Friday, on Thursday the Santa Teresa Oval hosted its first-ever official competitive match on the new grass, an intra-club game of the Ltyentyies football team.The launch of the Oval – situated in Santa Teresa, an Indigenous community 80km south-east of Alice Springs – is the result of a project first proposed by the AAAC in 2017.
The MCC Foundation joined the project as a major partner in August 2019 with a four-year financial commitment to ensure the Oval’s feasibility and sustainability long into the future.
With the previous red dirt oval made up entirely of clay, issues such as injury on the hard, unstable surface, breathing difficulties and increased eye disease rates from the red dust were the major drawbacks preventing sports participation among children and adults in the community.
The state of the oval had also made programs such as AFL Auskick or athletics near impossible to implement with any consistency as dust-settling rain is only expected for one to three weeks of a year in the region.
Through the MCC’s role as manager of the MCG, Executive Manager of Turf Michael Salvatore visited the Santa Teresa community in 2019 to provide consultancy on the Oval’s turf maintenance and growth.
In addition to the financial contribution to make the re-grassing of the Santa Teresa Oval possible, the MCC Foundation has also donated league-sized goal posts and goal post pads as well as one of the MCG’s grass mowers to assist with ongoing maintenance.
While COVID-19 denied the opportunity for an MCC Foundation delegation to be present at the launch, MCC Foundation Chair, Sally Macindoe said she was delighted that the community was able to enjoy first use of ‘the MCG of the desert’.
“It is wonderful to see the Oval come to life. The Santa Teresa community have been patient and waiting for this day for a long time, and while it is a shame not to be there for it on the day of its launch, we cannot wait to see photos and video of the locals enjoying and playing on their own hallowed turf,” Ms Macindoe said.
“Making sport, and the opportunity to participate in sport, available to everyone and breaking down the barriers that prevent anyone participating in sport, is a key principle of the MCC Foundation and also our MCC members.
“I’d also like to thank Linfox and the Fox Family Foundation for generously donating their freight services to transport the goal posts, goal post pads and the MCG mower to Santa Teresa.”
Image: Susie Low and Ellie Kamara of the AAAC, with Traditional Owners Phillip Alice and Nora Hayes (Credit: Emma Louise Murray)
The goal posts and goal post pads have been manufactured and supplied by Abel Sports and Flags.
Melbourne Football Club CEO, Gary Pert said the community of Santa Teresa and the oval project has incredibly close to the heart of the football club.
“Since the concept of grassing the oval was first proposed to us, the club has worked incredibly hard to help make this dream a reality for the people of Santa Teresa,” Pert said.
“Yesterday’s launch was an amazing celebration for the community and a fitting acknowledgement of many years of hard work and determination that has seen this project brought to life.
“While Covid-19 has impacted our ability to be in Santa Teresa for the occasion, everyone involved with Melbourne has been filled with immense pride and excitement seeing all the photos and videos coming in from the event and the joy it has brought to so many in the community.
“I would also like to thank all those who generously donated to the project via the Red and Blue Foundation, as well as the Northern Territory Government, MCC Foundation, AFL NT and all the other stakeholders who have helped make the dreams of the Santa Teresa community come true.”
Image: Shalaya Young, aged 4, on the newly-grassed Santa Teresa Oval (Credit: Emma Louise Murray)
“The idea to grass the oval in Santa Teresa was born from a random, wishful remark and the Melbourne Football Club has turned our crazy idea into a reality,” said Kamara.
“The support of Melbourne, both in a financial and practical sense has been invaluable and they are an amazing friend of our little community.
“Our relationship started out via Santa Teresa’s support of the club’s Cultural Immersion Program and has grown into a true friendship and partnership that has seen our very own MCG of the Desert brought to life.
“We look forward to the new horizons that the oval will bring to our community and are so thrilled that our children and sports men and women will have a facility to rival any small town in Australia.”
The MCC Foundation will continue to provide funding and support to the Oval until at least 2023.
Banner Image Credit: Emma Louise Murray