Goulburn Rugby Union has expanded their capacity thanks to the construction of a second playing field – Klem Oval – made possible due to a $150,000 injection from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Community Fund.

Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman met the Goulburn Rugby Union Club Wednesday to mark the oval’s completion.
“I am delighted to see Klem Oval complete and it certainly looks lush.

“Goulburn Rugby Union has such a wonderful history in Goulburn and the sport’s future is certainly bright with a strong membership and dedicated committee.

“I hope that this second field lessens the cost burdens to the club and brings greater opportunity for major events in Goulburn,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

Club president, Jackson Reardon, thanked the NSW Government for the funding.

“The club does so much to keep costs down for our members. Fundraising and sponsorship is a huge task each year which enables us to play – but it doesn’t leave much for major improvements like this,” Mr Reardon said.

“The Klem family have a very long and proud association with Goulburn Rugby Union, both on and off the field. Naming of the oval aims to recognise the Klem family’s outstanding contribution to the sport in Goulburn.”

Matthew Klem is looking forward to the official opening.

“We will officially open Klem Oval at 11.45am on Saturday 12 March but there is a full day of celebrations planned. Events kick off from 9.30am with a junior coaching clinic hosted by the ACT Brumbies and the Goulburn Dirty Reds Senior Men’s teams playing a trial game.

“The day will be capped off with a celebratory dinner at Veolia, appointing nine new life members of the club, with Simon Poidevin as guest speaker,” Mr Klem said.

In 2018 $150,000 was awarded to construct a second rectangular sports field at Rugby Park, South of Poidevin Oval in the complex. In 2019 $13,000 was awarded to construct and install the goal posts which was supplemented through in-kind support from Pearson Engineering as well as various other sponsors of the club.

Since 2017, the Stronger Country Communities Fund has provided $500 million for more than 2,000 local projects that make regional communities even better places to call home.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund continues to deliver grassroots projects that reinvigorate our rural communities in every single Local Government Area in regional NSW.

MEDIA RELEASE SUPPLIED BY THE OFFICE OF MEMBER FOR GOULBURN, WENDY TUCKERMAN