Tailem Bend Cricket Club catches funding for new practice nets

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The Tailem Bend Cricket Club will soon get four new practice nets thanks to grants from the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund and the Tailem Bend Advancement Group.

The ACIF, announced in May 2023, provides funding for community cricket projects that focus on expanding cricket participation while focusing on accessibility and inclusivity.

SACA, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association jointly deliver the funding.

President Brad Kleinig said the club had received $30,000 through SACA and around $100,000 through a Tailem Bend Advancement Group grant application.

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“Three or four clubs got an advancement grant, and the dream started when Tammy O’Malley from the (Coorong) council pushed the clubs to apply for the grant,” Mr Kleinig said.

“Our nets were a bit run down, and with only two pitches with five sides, it was a bit cramped.

“We’ll be building a four-net structure, and this will be especially good for the juniors, who had to finish early for the seniors to practice.

“The club’s excited, and I’m getting questions all the time from the juniors about when the nets will get up.”

“With the new nets, we’ll have a net at the back as well, which will stop balls.”

Mr Kleinig said that some of these balls ended up at the people’s house across the road or in puddles in rainy weather.

The club’s successful grant applications means the club almost has enough to build the new nets.

“We’re hoping to start construction in August to have it done for the start of next season,” Mr Kleinig said.

“There’s still a bit of funding we’re trying to source – the total cost is around $165,000 – but we’re very confident we’ll have it done in time.”

Mr Kleinig described his club as a “very family-oriented one”, and he hopes that the new practice nets and other upgrades to the club’s facilities will make the Tailem club a drawcard for other people in the region.

“To have something here might attract more players from Pinnaroo, Lameroo et cetera,” he said.

“With new nets, we want to be the destination club for people.

“Tailem’s in a beneficial spot for the Mallee, South East and Meningie: geographically, we’re located well.”