Mick Morland Reserve opening the start of great day for Berwick Springs FNC

Six years in the making and postponed on occasions due to COVID, Berwick Springs Football Netball Club finally celebrated the opening of its facility with an official opening ceremony taking place at Mick Morland Reserve on Saturday morning prior to its games.

With approximately 70 people in attendance, the ceremonial event had several media outlets along with members of the Casey Council leadership team, Brad Battin MP and family of the late Mick Morland were invited to take part for this historic moment for the club.

A Councillor and previous Mayor for the City of Casey, Morland was first elected to Council in 1992 and served for six terms in the Edrington Ward of Casey and was passionate about bringing the community together through local sporting clubs, which meant naming the facility in his honour was very appropriate.

The ceremony commenced with the Mick Morland Walk, situated 100 metres from the ground, and follows through the centre of the facility, before going through with more formal proceedings that included the unveiling of the plaque that recognises the opening of the reserve.

In what was described as a long time coming, Berwick Springs Football Netball Club Chairman Ashley Allison said it had been a lot of hard work from his club as well as the local council to see the reserve be officially opened.

“It was great to finally see it all come together formally and officially,” he said.

“Although we have already been in the rooms for a year, we have already embedded ourselves in the local community and people are embracing us which is nice.

“We are proud to have the facility, but we are even more proud to be part of the local community.”

Once the football and netball games got underway, the Titans battled wet conditions against Yarra Glen to pick up wins in D Grade netball and then also in the reserves and senior football which was a great way to finish off a big day.

With the reserves maintaining its unbeaten run, the seniors got its first win of the year with a thumping 93-point victory over the River Pigs in a result that Allison described as ‘awesome.’

“This sets the standard for us now and together with the reserves that keep rolling on, it creates the match day pressure which our players need for selection between the two sides,” he explained.

“Having a great reserves side creates a great culture of trying to perform because it keeps everyone honest with their performances which is great.

“The netball squads follow this same philosophy with their selection process.”