Perfect pavilion premiere

There could not have been a more fitting way to showcase Pingelly’s new $9.1 million Recreation and Cultural Centre than Saturday’s winter sporting codes double-header.

A huge crowd gathered at the state-of-the art timber pavilion, which opened in August, to witness history being made as the Brookton-Pingelly Football Club took on the UGSFL’s reigning premiers, Boddington, and the Pingelly Netball Club started their A1 Narrogin & Districts Netball Association premiership defence.

In a season opener for both codes, the football club shocked the crowd by unexpectedly thrashing Boddington, while the netballers also got the better of their opponents, Williams.

An Anzac Day service was conducted at the Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre, also known as PRACC before the UGSFL league match which featured former Essendon player and Pingelly product Leroy Jetta returning to his home club and booting four goals.

Pingelly Netball Club president Rheannon Turton said there was a buzz around town in the lead-up to the day. “It’s pretty incredible (PRACC). It’s netball’s first game here; we’ve come a long way from outdoor courts to indoor and we’re extremely lucky to be here with the footballers on this Anzac Day round,” she said.

“(Pingelly) has got a very big buzz around it. We’re really excited we no longer have to play outsidewe’re excited for the future seasons to come.”

BPFC’s B-grade captain Clinton Davis was impressed with the community support at the ground. “You couldn’t ask for a better atmosphere for the day,” he said.

“The PRACC is second-to-none. You can’t fault it at all.

“It’s good to have everyone all in one area and it’s a good atmosphere for the town.”