Iona’s AFL Partnership Honoured With National Award Nomination
The Gannon Award recognises projects that set the benchmark in best-practice design and development to support the continued growth of Australian Football through modern, inclusive facilities to support growing participation.
Iona was nominated as Queensland’s leading community facility project for 2025, and our College will now join finalists from all other states and territories as national finalists, with the winner to be announced by the AFL in early April.
Iona College Principal Mr Trevor Goodwin said the Gannon Award nomination was due recognition of the remarkable work done by Iona staff and the AFL to deliver a remarkable facility that benefits the entire community.
“Iona always has our community at heart, so when the opportunity came to partner with the AFL to deliver this project that would not only benefit our students but young families across our region, we were delighted to be involved,” Mr Goodwin said.
“The fact that the project was called ‘Breaking New Ground’ was very apt, as it was a very significant step for the College to partner with an organisation like the AFL. Similarly, we as a College community take great pride in the fact that Iona is the first school in Queensland to work with the AFL in a partnership like this.
“The AFL made it clear that Iona was chosen because they wanted the project to be successful and to act as a benchmark for further community projects in Queensland.
“We are certainly delighted that the project not only delivered on that, but is being recognised at a national level for its community impact.
“More importantly, it means that more Iona students and more local families are able to share and use the wonderful facilities we are blessed to have at Iona.”
AFL Head of Venue Network Enhancements and Partnerships Shayne Ward said the partnership with Iona and its impact on the growth of the game in Queensland could not be overstated.
“This is a prime example of what can be achieved when you are able to work with a school like Iona who have been just brilliant to work with,” Mr Ward said.
“The school has such a big community focus, this organisation, and they are willing to be innovative themselves.
“(St Eugene’s Park) has twice as much grass as the MCG. It will produce 10,000 hours of use just for our sport, and many more hours of usage for other activities, sports, events, festivals.
“This is a really significant moment. I have had the pleasure of working on many thousands of projects over the past 17 years for the AFL. This is right at the top in terms of the impact that it will have on our sport.”
AFLQ giants Morningside Panthers were key partners in the project, working tirelessly with Iona to bring the ambitious project to life in the hope of opening up greenspace options to accommodate booming junior participation numbers.
Richard Witting, the Director of Infrastructure at Morningside Panthers, said the partnership and lights at Iona were a “game changer” for the club and growing participation numbers locally.
“This award nomination is due recognition for an outstanding project driven by a shared desire between Iona, the Panthers and the AFL to deliver something truly special for the community,” he said.
“The impact of bringing floodlights to Iona’s St Eugene’s Park on junior footy in our community is just enormous. When you look at it on the basis of how many children and their families will benefit from it compared to the cost, it is an incredible return on investment and a genuine community service.
“The Panthers are proud to have been a part of this project with Iona and the AFL to deliver something that will benefit junior football and the wider community for years to come.”
The 2025 Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Awards finalists:
- NSW/ACT: Bob Prenter Reserve Facility Upgrade
- NT: Maningrida Sports Upgrades
- QLD: Iona College – Breaking New Ground Partnership
- SA: Barossa Park Development
- TAS: Windsor Park Oval Redevelopment
- VIC: Alexandra Park Pavilion Redevelopment
- WA: Halesworth Park Development