Community
2 April, 2026
Investing in the hoppers’ home
The transformed pavilion features four change rooms, two umpire change rooms, an upgraded social space, and accessible public amenities, all suitable for women and girls.
THERE are plenty of players with memories wrapped up in the Navarre Recreation Reserve.
Including Northern Grampians Shire mayor Karen Hyslop.
“There’s a picture on the wall of my father from 1952, he was a player here,” she said.
“It’s a special place.”
A special place that has now been upgraded.
From grassroots footy to junior cricket, Navarre has a new home ground advantage with the completion of the pavilion transformation at Navarre Recreation Reserve.
Home to more than 190 players from the Navarre Grasshoppers Football Netball Club and the Navarre Grasshoppers Cricket Club, the previous ageing pavilion was struggling to cope with growing demand.
“This project is a major priority for the Navarre community and will help ensure future sustainability and participation levels at the reserve,” Cr Hyslop said.
The transformed pavilion features four change rooms, two umpire change rooms, an upgraded social space, and accessible public amenities, all suitable for women and girls.
“These changes will make a world of difference,” Football club vice-president Barry Fletcher said.
“This has been a very long project, as many important projects are. “I’ve been heavily invested in this project from day one and it’s really great now because Navarre is a really special place. And that’s because of the community and the culture that’s really existed here for generations.
“We’re incredibly proud of that.”
Mr Fletcher said the town had worked hard itself to get there.
“Historically we’ve been a self-reliant and resilient community,” he said.
“And previously, everything you see here at the reserve has quite literally been built by the community themselves.
“To have the involvement we’ve had through the partnership with the shire and State Government and all the various bodies is absolutely fantastic.
“We’re excited to see young sportspeople flourish here at these great facilities for generations to come.”
Ripon MP Martha Haylett said the $600,000 from the State Government, along with $1.45million from council and $50,000 from the Navarre Sports Association was a “worthy investment”.
“Sport is the lifeblood of rural communities like Navarre and it is so important that netballers, footballers and cricketers have the best facilities,” she said.
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