GLENN Carroll last week celebrated his 20th anniversary as manager of the Horsham Sports and Community Club, and his impact on the community deserves recognition.
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The club has donated more than 2.7 million dollars to sporting and community groups in the region during his 20 years at the helm.
“We just do the best we can to make sure we can return whatever we can to the local community,” Carroll said.
“At the moment we run a hospitality venue and we’re able to contribute pretty heavily back to the local community, and I just think it’s such a good purpose and I really enjoy doing it.”
The club’s donations have contributed to some key developments in the area, including the gazebo and barbecue area at Green Lake and the lighting along the river between Wimmera Bridge and Bennett Road.
“The way the club is set up is very unique, there’s nothing else like it in Victoria, so the community should be very proud of what it has,” Carroll said.
Carroll’s community involvement also stretches beyond his work as manager of the venue. He’s been a regular contributor to the Horsham Saints cricket and football clubs since 2005.
He’s had stints as president and treasurer at both clubs, administration positions he said ‘you just find yourself doing when you’re dedicated to a club’.
“I had a turn as president of the footy club many years ago. I’ve been involved there for a fair while, my kids played there, so that’s just sort of what you do,” he said.
“I’m probably your typical Aussie boy, love my footy and my cricket, and that’s about it!”
He currently serves as the vice president of the cricket club, and was an essential part in the recent move to resurface the Saints’ home ground, Coughlin Park, after the club received a grant through Cricket Victoria.
“Once we got the grant, I then had to negotiate a bit with the footy club and the school, and those two organisations and the cricket club have put in about 20-21 thousand dollars each,” Carroll said.
“All up it’s nearly a 200 thousand dollar project, so it’s really important that we get it right.”
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And so far, thanks to guidance from Carroll and the support of both clubs, they have got it right, with plans on track for the ground to be ready to go before the next football season begins.
“It’s all been going to plan so far, we’ll have the irrigation installed over the weekend by some members from both the footy and the cricket clubs,” he said.
“It’s just going to be sensational when it’s finished.
“I’m very confident it’s going to be the best surface in the area.”
