Sports Funding

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (15:19): Yesterday, when I was speaking to the Appropriation Bill, I failed to mention the important funding going into sport and, in particular, female change rooms across the state. I did not do that deliberately; I simply focused on other aspects of the budget. I think this is a terrific initiative that I know is being welcomed by sporting clubs and sporting bodies across the state. In the Colton electorate, there are many excellent sporting clubs, and you know this, Deputy Speaker, because you have heard me over the years speak about these clubs on numerous occasions.

One of these excellent sporting clubs is the Fulham United Soccer Club. Fulham United is not eligible for this funding for female change rooms that has been made available from the budget, and I can even hear you thinking, 'Why?' The reason, Deputy Speaker, is that probably about eight or so years ago, and it might even be longer than that, I was approached by Fulham United to provide support for the construction of women's change rooms at their Collins Reserve base.

Fulham United identified long ago that, with the growth in women's soccer, it was not appropriate for players to have to share change rooms with men or indeed to be forced to get prepared on the sidelines. After an extended period, women's change rooms were constructed at Collins Reserve as a result of the club being successful in being awarded a recreation and sport facilities funding grant with matching funded provided by the local council, the City of Charles Sturt, and the requisite in-kind payment by Fulham United. I was fortunate enough and honoured to play a part in the official opening of the change rooms, along with Mayor Angela Evans.

The point I want to make here is that, while we were all over the moon to get the clubrooms refurbished to accommodate our women's soccer players, to wait the time we did was unfortunate, particularly for the players. The good thing is that the government recognised this and has provided significant funding to accommodate the expanding growth—and it is an ever-expanding growth in women playing soccer, playing cricket and playing Aussie rules. In fact, we know that these three sports are leading the way in the growth of women participating in sport.

What we should be pleased about is that many sporting clubs across South Australia will not have to wait as long as Fulham United had to for women's change rooms at their clubs to be built. What we can expect, if the Fulham United experience is anything to go by, is we will continue to attract more girls and women to sport if there are proper and appropriate facilities available to them.

To finish off, I just want to focus a little bit more on Fulham United—a fantastic football club. The club was established in 1969 and was then known as Western United. It played at that time at the Barratt Reserve, again just outside of my electorate, where the club remained until it moved to Collins Reserve in 1979 and changed its name to Fulham United. Today, it is recognised as a well-respected, family-oriented sporting and social club providing an ever-expanding community service in the western suburbs.

It has an extremely proud history, with some fantastic players coming from the club, but it also has a very bright future. The Fulham United men were accepted into the Football Federation SA's new State League in April 2015 and debuted this year, 2016, in the State League 2 competition. The men's State League 2 seniors are currently fifth on the ladder after 14 games, which is not bad in their debut season and, as you are aware, there are nine teams in the league.

The women's team is something to behold; if you are ever down our way and you want to go to the soccer, I would recommend we go and watch the Fulham United women's team. Their Premier League team sits third on the ladder after 16 games. There are eight teams in the league, and on 25 July the women's side beat Adelaide Uni 4-2 in the FFSA Cup semifinal. In September, they will be playing off in the grand final, and I would like to be able to get to that particular match.

A club like Fulham United can only be successful if it is underpinned by good administration, good members, good supporters and good volunteers. I want to congratulate all those people involved, particularly Arthur Labrosciano, who is a foundation member and player life member, who is the president, and his board and committee that he has underneath him, including treasurer Romeo Vella. He has been outstanding in making sure he gets whatever he can for the club and, like all treasurers, is tight-fisted and seeks money from elsewhere.

I want to congratulate the coaches and the many volunteers, as I have said, and supporters. I am very proud to have this soccer club in my electorate. They are a shining beacon and one that the western suburbs can be proud of, but also the soccer fraternity in South Australia can be proud of the contribution that Fulham United make to this wonderful sport.