As the youngest member of the House of Representatives, Chris Crewther MP is passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people. One way of doing so is engaging young people in sport, education, work and the local community. This is why Chris has been so supportive of investing in local sport.
One example is Jubilee Park, where the Federal Liberal Coalition Government provided $350,000 towards a new high performance pathway program, shelter sheds, a PA system, cricket nets, and developing new stadium plans with Frankston City Council. These plans have now resulted in more than $16 million funding from Council and the Federal Government towards building the stadium!
Trish McLachlan, from Peninsula Waves and Frankston & District Netball Association, said: “These developments are terrific for our community, providing a home base and opportunities for both grassroots and high performance athletes. This will allow our young people to be led, mentored and inspired to be the best they can be through sport.”
Recently, Chris also secured $850,000 Federal Government funding for new television broadcast-quality lighting at SkyBus Stadium (Frankston Park), following an original commitment of $650,000 from Michael Lamb, the Liberal candidate for Frankston (then matched by the State Government), and over $850,000 from Council.
Peter Geddes, from Frankston Football Club, said: “Lighting of this quality will provide an elite facility that can showcase football on the Mornington Peninsula and provide the community with a night venue for VFL, VFLW, MPNFL and Junior AFL football. Perhaps in coming years we could see Frankston Dolphins VFL in a televised night VFL final from SkyBus Stadium Frankston — now that would provide some inspiration for all footballers right across the Peninsula!”
Chris noted: “It will also provide the opportunity to attract not only VFL and VFLW night games, but also AFL/AFLW games, with the lights being up and running for the 2019 season. That will mean a boom for the local economy and the promotion of Frankston on the national stage.”
What’s more, Chris has also been involved with setting up the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Drug Action Team (FMPLDAT). Frankston Mornington Peninsula Primary Care Partnership’s Ryan Peace noted that FMPLDAT’s Federal Government grants have enabled the set-up of ACTIVATE, which “links young people into local sporting and recreational clubs and provides scholarships for local children aged 12-18 years to participate in a sport or recreational activity of their choice … to reduce social and economic barriers … and to increase social connection and pro-social activity”.
Locally, Chris has also delivered $100,000 for a new Peninsula Hockey Centre pitch, $300,000 towards new clubrooms and a netball court at the Karingal Football Netball Club, $300,000 towards new facilities at Seaford United Soccer Club, $410,000 towards upgrades for Peninsula Senior Strikers at Centenary Park in Frankston North, $90,000 for the Karingal Youth Hangout Bus, $25,500 towards a scoreboard and women’s change rooms at Lloyd Park in Langwarrin, $300,000 towards lighting across two ovals in Frankston South, $3 million for athletics track/soccer facilities, $17,000 for Ballam Park hurdles and much more.
Chris has also been promoting early childhood reading by delivering free preschool children’s books to local childcare centres, preschools and kinders. If you would like some books for your organisation, business or home, feel free to contact Chris on 9781 2333 or at [email protected]