Part of the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing’s Get Playing initiative, the grant will allow the association to realise its dream of having lights at the hockey fields.

The funding was made possible through the continued support of the Remote and Indigenous Hockey Program, which helped hockey to grow in the area.

“We originally began offering knowledge and skill sharing when Mount Isa Hockey wanted to begin a junior hockey competition locally, and we co-ordinated a workshop, supported by the Mount Isa council and Sport and Rec, and brought in people who could provide direction and offer ongoing mentor support,” RIHP’s program manager Julie McNeil said.

“We also act to deliver training and education support programs across coaching/officiating and volunteer support in an effort to assist in the building of local capacities to support sustainable hockey growth across the whole region.

“But our main support comes with being able to talk and support the association with government representatives and partners, and assist with development plans to ensure the hockey association is travelling together in the same direction.

“We offered assistance with organisation support, risk management, problem solving, and supporting opportunities through Western Games as well as getting the under 15 team to the state championships this year.

“This was where we offered our support to Mount Isa Hockey in relation to the successful funding.

“We worked at all levels to highlight the need for the lighting. We confirmed the commitment, passion and the progress Mount Isa Hockey has made in recent years.’’

The RIHP and state MP Rob Katter wrote letters of recommendation to support the bid put together by MIHA’s Kristy-Lee Crawford, which highlighted the efforts the association has put into fund-raising during recent times.

The constant increase in numbers, along with sponsorship from Dave Clancy Electrical, Butler Agency and Brogden’s Furniture Court, who sponsored MIHA in 2014, has ensured the association had enough deposit to begin construction of the project.

Association president Mark Liddle said he could not even start to explain what the grant would do for the sport of hockey in Mount Isa.

“We have been fund-raising for this for more than four years, but this added boost in funds is completely unexpected,” Liddle said.

“Kristy-Lee Crawford deserves a lot of the credit for putting together the proposal, along with the help of Stephanie McCallum from the council.

“Stephanie at council offered support, and explained how to apply for the grant and what documentation was required to proceed, which was a great service provided locally.

“This is going to be absolutely unbelievable for us, as it will allow us to change the whole focus of what we do.

“We will be able to start matches later on in the day, with cooler temperatures, which will increase the social aspect of the sport.

“Another option for us is to play night hockey on both Fridays and Saturdays, which would suit a lot of the shift workers in town.

“The lights will also give us the option to hire the fields out to other sporting organisations.

“The sport of hockey has come a long way in the past couple of years.

‘‘We had no juniors in place four years ago, and now we have more than 130 on our books. This should see hockey solidify itself as Mount Isa’s fastest growing sport.” 

The payment for the only grant awarded west of Hughenden is expected to be finalised in January, with the association hoping to finish construction of the lighting system by the end of 2015.

This will eventually allow the MIHA to play games all year round, as well as starting their junior and senior games later in the day, instead of the middle of the day.

Other local organisations to receive grants include Mount Isa Golf Club (driving range), Mount Isa Touch Association (irrigation project) and Mount Isa Campdraft Association (arena construction/fencing).