Help Support St Andrews Cricket Club & Aquinas Old Collegians Football Club!

We are excited to announce that the project to build a new pavilion at JW Manson Reserve will kick off in 2022 and become a reality! The current pavilion is home to St Andrews Cricket Club and Aquinas Old Collegians Football Club but is desperately unfit for purpose with both clubs having outgrown the near 50 year old pavilion, primarily a result of continued strong growth in female participation in both sports.

St Andrews Cricket Club, incorporated in 1963, has been a community minded and culturally inclusive sporting club for over 50 years. We are one of the largest sporting clubs in Maroondah, fielding 15 junior and 10 senior teams in season 2021/22, which included our inaugural senior women’s team and three all girl junior teams. 

Our family and community focused DNA stems from both our ingrained culture and being in a fortunate position to be able to offer cricket to all members of the family to enjoy and love together, highlighted by many second and third generation father/son and mother/daughter cricketers playing in the same team. We are also proud of being a pioneer of girls in sport over the past five years with our female participation levels being the highest in Maroondah.

For more than 40 years, Aquinas has also run a strong community based amateur AFL program, which now provides opportunities for men, women and juniors across various age groups. The club has experienced rapid growth in participation in recent years since the introduction of successful Senior Women’s and Junior programs in 2018.

The football club has been a strong community focus point for sporting and social activities bringing together a diverse range of participants and their families. This family led culture and amateur ethos has driven long term success and grown participation to be currently fielding 6 teams: 3 men, 2 women and 1 junior girls team drawn from around the district.

The current facility does not reflect the membership size and strength of both clubs – it is not fit for purpose. Specifically, the facility is small and outdated with aged amenities, no changerooms and just one female toilet for the entire membership, supporters and families to use. 

THE PROJECT – PAVILION REBUILD

We are forever grateful that Maroondah City Council and Jackson Taylor MP have enthusiastically supported and funded the new pavilion, with a $4.5m rebuild approved and confirmed for 2022. As well as the current tenants, Maroondah Council are excited to engage other local groups to utilise the facility during the day and with three elite ovals, the venue is perfect for local school carnivals and other sporting events.

J.W. Manson Reserve itself is an untouched beauty. We boast a unique three oval set-up within peaceful surroundings of the Dandenong Creek, wildlife and bike track and it is one of the finest places within Maroondah to play sport, but also one of the most peaceful during the day. The pavilion will enhance the region and will be a jewel in Maroondah’s crown for the community to enjoy for generations to come.

FUNDING REQUIREMENT – PAVILION FITOUT

Our Foundation is a collective between both clubs and has been established to raise the required funds to fit out of the new facility, providing the current and future generations an elite venue to play team sport and create their lifelong memories.

Whilst all donations to the Foundation will be gratefully received and individually recognised per the funding bands below, our Foundation honour board will be secured and positioned for prime exposure in the new Pavilion to recognise the contribution of our generous donors of $500 or more:

●      $5,000 > Platinum

●      $2,000 > Emerald

●      $1,000 > Gold

●      $500 > Silver

●      $250 > Community

Both clubs also have separate Corporate partnership packages available on request. Contact Dwayne Paisley on 0426 044 788.

All donations to this development through the Australian Sports Foundation are tax deductible for individuals and companies.

We are asking for your support for this critical project. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to leave a permanent mark at J.W. Manson Reserve so that future generations of footballers and cricketers will celebrate and remember the contribution you have made in years to come.