Media Release

January 14, 2010

Rising from the ashes

The turning of the first sod for a new club house signals a fresh beginning for teams who call Starling Park in Ranui home.

When their former clubhouse was razed in an arson attack in 2005 the teams involved turned to the community for help.

The generous response which followed culminated in the sports teams meeting at the park last month to turn the first sod beneath their future clubrooms.

Members of the Waitakere Bears Softball Club and the Ranui-Swanson Football Club helped Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey turn the sod before construction officially begins.

Managers of the two clubs told those gathered that the new clubrooms were the result of a determined community – and that they were equally determined their new facility would be open to all.

Waitakere City Council, the Waitakere Licensing Trusts and the ASB Community Trust are among the $2.6 million facility’s sponsors.

The clubrooms will include a juniors’ lounge, medical and changing rooms, tuck shop, umpire room and expansive viewing windows that look out over the playing fields.

Construction starts next month and is expected to be completed late 2010.

ENDS

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