Myrtleford sports fans can now practice and play night and day, with the installation of state-of-the-art lighting at McNamara Reserve. Labor Upper House Member for Norther Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, tonight officially switched on the lights, made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Andrews Labor Governments Country Football and Netball Program. The reserve is home to the Myrtleford Alpine Saints Football Netball Club, the Myrtleford Cricket Club and the Ovens and Murray Football League. The old lighting at the reserve was inadequate and unsafe for night training and play. The new 100 lux oval lighting and 200 lux netball court lighting is approved for night games and training. McNamara Reserve is a hub of the local community and an important sports and recreation facility in the region, and the Government was delighted to partner with Alpine Shire Council to deliver the $300,000 upgrade. The new lighting will give a boost to local sports clubs, and also increase opportunities for other organisations to utilise the reserve. Community sport is the lifeblood of country towns like Myrtleford, and these new lights will provide club administrators with more flexibility and increased opportunity to schedule training and games to accommodate the growth of football, netball and cricket in the area, Ms Symes said. The Andrews Labor Government is giving locals councils and clubs the facilities they need to continue this proud tradition. Labor first started the Country Football and Netball Program in 2005, and since, the program has delivered more than $26.5 million to over 480 projects across rural Victoria. The program is a partnership with the AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria to support country football and netball clubs all over the state attract more members and grow, because everybody deserves equal facilities, no matter where they live.