Facilities for women at Bendigo’s premier sporting venue have been labelled “primitive”.
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Cath Robertson, whose daughter plays netball for Sandhurst, said facilities for netballers, officials and spectators at the Queen Elizabeth Oval were far from adequate.
Robertson said the lack of change room facilities and the poor state of toilet amenities at the QEO was forcing netballers to get changed behind trees and in cars.
Hundreds of senior and junior netballers use the QEO each week for training and Bendigo Football Netball League games.
The netball courts are located inside the grounds of the Bendigo Aquatic Centre – approximately 150m from QEO toilet facilities.
Robertson said it was time women had their own change rooms at the QEO.
“The BFNL is celebrating 25 years of netball in the league this year,’’ Robertson said.
“The only improvements and upgrades in that time have been moving the netball courts from behind the (football) goal posts at the city end to their current location.
“At the QEO there is no basic facilities court side. This includes no running water, no protection from the elements and, most importantly, no change rooms or toilet facilities. It’s primitive.
“Female athletes and umpires are changing in cars, behind trees or under blankets for privacy… sometimes exposing themselves to the public while removing clothing. This leaves players and officials very vulnerable.”
City of Greater Bendigo acting active and healthy communities manager Lincoln Fitzgerald said a facility dedicated for netballers was available in the QEO change rooms at the Barnard Street forward pocket end.
“There is a netball change room available, but the issue the clubs have is the distance it is away from the courts,’’ Fitzgerald said.
“We have a draft master plan for the QEO which does include the potential for future change rooms on the rear of the football scoreboard. That’s subject to funding in the future.”
Robertson said the “dedicated” netball room at the Barnard Street end of the QEO wasn’t the answer.
“Some weeks the room is not open, other times netballers have gone to use it and men are in there showering,’’ she said. “There should be change rooms next to the netball courts… we’re not living in the 1900s.”
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Female athletes and umpires are changing in cars, behind trees or under blankets for privacy.
- Cath Robertson