A crescendo of excitement and jubilation has swept through Kyneton District Soccer Club, just awarded Regional Club of the Year status by Football Victoria.
“This has been achieved by a lot of hardworking people involved to make sure we continued to support our community in what has been a very tough couple of years,” stalwart Kyneton president Ron Cole stated after the official announcement came through late last week.
Around one hundred provincial soccer clubs were eligible for the award.
Life member Cole has spent over four decades with the club in various capacities, and continues to be a strong advocate for the round ball code and its growth in this part of Victoria.
He is also vice-president of the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League, which described the Kyneton club’s award as being “a remarkable achievement, off the back of some outstanding initiatives and hard work by the Kyneton committee members. Well done”.
Macedon Ranges mayor, Jennifer Anderson, also extended her congratulations to the Kyneton club, based at Barkly Square, where new lights became operational earlier this year.
“It’s a very inclusive, positive and hard working club, which is always looking to help its members and players. It’s continued growth makes it an important sporting leader in the Macedon Ranges, and obtaining this award from Football Victoria is a fine acknowledgement,” Cr Anderson said.
Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, also welcomed the announcement.
“This is a remarkable achievement, off the back of some outstanding initiatives and hard work by the Kyneton committee members,” Ms Chesters said.
Cole said the BASL has had to make “some tough calls” over the past couple of years, with COVID-19 a challenging intrusion for many.
“As a club, we have kept up a strong level of support for our , coaches and members,” Cole said.
He described obtaining the new lights as “a big plus” despite the season being curtailed through the pandemic.
“We are lucky to have a great group of loyal sponsors. They have stuck behind us over the past couple of years in particular.
“Thanks must go to everyone involved. We have a hard working committee which is keen to look forward.”
The new season is not far away, and the MiniRoos (for boys and girls of all abilities in the four to 10 years age bracket) begin training in a couple of weeks.
Cole said the club extends a big ‘Thank you’ to the shire council for its past support as well.
What FV had to say
Summarising why Kyneton District Soccer Club is the Regional Club of the Year, Football Victoria had this to say:
KDSC is a fully inclusive football club which prides itself on being a home for people of all abilities, cultures, genders, orientation and age groups.
The club has displayed a commitment to inclusion striving for 50/50 gender representation at committee level and has put considerable efforts into sustainably growing female representation in the region.
Its program has grown from 25 females in 2013 to 132 in 20212, a number which represents 42 per cent of its overall player base.
KDSC is looking to further build on its existing program and is developing an All Abilities program through engaging local schools and families.
The club also provided full first aid training to its members in 2021, upskilled its coaches through formal qualifications and consistently went above and beyond to support its community during a challenging year with COVID-19.
