Lord Mayor's column: It’s game on for community sports

It’s that time of year when the WhatsApp chat starts firing up and the uniforms and footwear are being checked for fit – it’s winter sports season!

This week I visited St James Park at Coledale and met with Coledale Waves FC Club President Roger Carter to hear about the recent field drainage improvements that have been undertaken to ensure these pitches are more resilient in wet weather.

It was a really timely and positive conversation, given rain was threatening. I was pleased to hear how well the field was holding up, thanks to these improvements and that Council’s investment meant more access and playing time on these valuable fields.

The visit followed last week’s media opportunity to mark the opening of the all-gender change rooms which form part of the new amenities at Thirroul’s Thomas Gibson Park.

At Thirroul, I chatted with enthusiastic young women from the Thirroul Butchers Rugby League Club who shared with me how important to have a space to get ready and change on game days and that it enhanced their whole playing experience.

It really demonstrated why Council’s ongoing investment in sporting infrastructure is essential to our wellbeing.

As my fellow Councillors and I know too well, it’s not easy to balance the competing priorities for Council to invest in. And the list keeps growing.

We’ve got so many sporting codes that seek places to train and play across the city, and players – from grassroots to the elite level – who are equally enthusiastic about wanting their sport to grow.

Sport is such a key part of our lives in Wollongong. Not only is it an important physical outlet and gets our bodies moving and exercising, but it is also a vital piece of social engagement.

At sport, including community sports, people come together, talk, relax and just enjoy being part of where they live.

I’ll see this in action this Friday night when I join the Bulli Junior Football Club for their 2026 season launch.

And, no doubt, parents, grandparents and carers will see this as the winter sports seasons kick off in earnest over the coming weeks, and weekends get that little bit more hectic – but also fun.

But, as the boots go on and the netball uniforms get dusted off, I can assure our community that Council remains resolute in our promise to continue to invest in providing a wide range of sporting facilities for all.

Especially since these facilities might just inspire the next generation of sporting heroes for our city. Players like Caitlin Foord, Michelle Heyman and Mary Fowler who I, as I’m sure many others will be, cheering on this Saturday as our fabulous Matildas seek to be the Asian Women’s Cup 2026 winners.

Let’s go! Tilitsdone