Contributing to community at a grass roots level means a lot to Barenbrug. When the opportunity to collaborate with Melbourne Football Club came along to provide a remote indigenous community with a grassed oval, we felt privileged to help.

 

East of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Santa Teresa – Ltyentye Apurte – is football mad. It is a focal point for the community. The kids love playing, but the oval was in such poor condition that the surface was hard and dusty and participation in sport was at an all-time low.

 

The Melbourne Football Club has a close association with the community through its Cultural Immersion Program, and a chance conversation and wishful thinking for a grass oval led to the Santa Teresa oval to be re-grassed.

 

The resultant oasis – the MCG of the desert – complete with goal posts from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was officially opened in June 2021. It is such a pleasure to see the joy on the players faces – young and old – to play footy once more.

 

#community #kidslovesport #santateresa #footy #AFL #turf #barenbrug