The new RO Spencer pavilion officially opened its doors this March, welcoming back the sporting community to its grounds.
RO Spencer Pavilion redevelopment is part of a broader precinct enhancement plan that will see some key, longer-term outcomes for the community, to be implemented over the next 10 years.
The $3.5 million pavilion includes improved accessibility features, female-friendly change rooms, large social space, balcony and designated office space.
The RO Spencer Pavilion serves the Jubilee Sporting precinct and the Russell Lucas Oval—a Premier Grade cricket ground. Lighting works are also currently underway for the Premier Grade Cricket ground to coincide with the new facility development.
The pavilion is home to Ringwood Premier Cricket Club, Ringwood Football Netball Club and Ringwood Spiders All Abilities Sporting Club.
Cr Symon, Mayor of Maroondah, was optimistic that the redevelopment will help grow the home clubs' memberships.
"I know all the clubs are looking forward to the new pavilion supporting the growth of their club membership and increasing the participation of cricket and football for all in Maroondah.
"The unisex facilities are also a great addition to encourage female involvement in these sports.
"This fantastic new facility further enhances Jubilee Park as Council's premier sporting precinct," Cr Symon said.
The remarkable new complex is also utilised by SEDA College, the Ringwood District Cricket Association and Cricket Victoria.
The pavilion is named after former Ringwood Councillor and Mayor, Reginald Owen Spencer. Cr Mike Symon, Mayor of Maroondah, highlighted that the new pavilion will uphold Reginald's legacy for years to come.
"The naming of the new pavilion will ensure that the contribution made by Reginald to Ringwood in the 1950s and 1960s continues to be recognised in Maroondah, including his time as a Councillor and the Mayor of Ringwood," Cr Symon said.
Family member, Luke Spencer, gave a passionate speech at the opening.
"Reggie was one of my childhood heroes, he loved his sport and he loved his family.
"I remember playing a game of footy here once as a junior, and to see his name up at the end of the old pavilion gave me a really good feeling.
"So, this is a great moment for us; we're pretty stoked," he said.
A new home for our sporting clubs
Ringwood Cricket Club
The Ringwood Cricket Club have been tenants of Jubilee Park since the early 1960s.
The upgrade is the culmination of approximately seven years of hard work for the club, explains President Stuart Baum.
"There have been many contributors to the project, giving up their time and in some cases offering their professional expertise to ensure that the end result was as good as it could be for all stakeholders.
"For players, the new facilities offer an incredible step forward. They are clean and safe; their high standard will enable Ringwood Cricket Club to be a destination club for promising cricketers.
"We are grateful for the contribution by both the Victorian and Local Government as a project of this magnitude would be almost impossible to achieve at club level without this support," he said.
The upgrade aligns with Ringwood Cricket Clubs strategy of being both a club that fosters the development of elite cricketers, but also one that through community involvement, encourages male and female participation in the game of cricket.
The club have already seen the benefits of the revitalised pavilion in recent games.
"The improvements offer the ability to play high-level cricket at Jubilee Park. We have just held a Futures League (Vic vs SA) Men's game and we are working to reach a point where we can host first class women's cricket.
"The improvements have also offered immediate benefits for spectators, as they are able to watch and enjoy play in comfort; and we would be really pleased if the facility can attract spectators that in the past may not have wanted to come.
"Being of such high quality, it really is a showcase for the City of Maroondah," Stuart said.
Former president, Mark Freeman, is just as excited about the upgrades.
"There's no doubt about it, we can call Jubilee Park the 'mecca' of the East now with the fantastic facilities we've got.
"The new ground, lighting upgrades, the brand-new pavilion and now the Indoor Cricket Training Centre; it will be the pinnacle of sport in the eastern suburbs," he said.
Ringwood Football and Netball Club
President of the Ringwood Football and Netball Club, Jake Keogh, said that for the Redbacks, the new facility is all about the community.
"This was just a thought bubble a few years ago, and the fact that we're standing here is amazing; it's an incredible facility and we're looking forward to using it.
"We speak about the professional elements of sport and we look forward to seeing professional games played here; but for us, the upgrades are all for the community," he said.
The new female-friendly change rooms and facilities are some of the most important upgrades for the clubs, with female participation across both netball and football; most recently a women's, under 9s and under 12s girls football teams.
"We just want to see a world that normalises women's participation in sport, so when they walk into a facility there aren't just male change rooms - everyone is just the same.
"This will be an incredible community facility, and we are really looking forward to using it," Jake said.
Ringwood Spiders All Abilities Sporting Club
Since 1992, the Ringwood Spiders Football Club (formerly the Ringwood Blues) has provided AFL opportunities for people with a mild to medium intellectual disability within Maroondah and surrounding areas of outer eastern Melbourne.
Chairman of the Club, Paul House, was proud of what the new pavilion will mean to the players.
"People with disabilities miss out on a lot of things, but sport draws them together, they have their favourite football team and they want to play.
"And now, not only do we offer a field, we offer literally a centre of excellence for football and for our netball team as well," said Paul.
For the Ringwood Spiders, it's not just about the game; the pavilion will be a meeting place for players and their community.
"Our club is a family affair; we love being able to watch the players become great human beings and get back into sport.
"We're not just going to play, train and go home; we're going to use the kitchen and serve meals on a Wednesday, so the players can enjoy each other's company.
"We're going to really show the pavilion off to anybody who wants to join the Spiders, so they too can enjoy the games of football and netball," he said.
