St Eugene’s Park project wins the AFL’s Ken Gannon Community Football Facility Award for 2025
Iona College’s St Eugene’s Park floodlight project has been awarded the AFL’s Ken Gannon Community Football Facility Award for 2025.
Iona is the first school to win the prestigious national award, beating out 600 nominations from around the country and six other state finalists to be recognised for the College’s outstanding commitment and contribution to its community.
Iona was presented with the Ken Gannon Award at a special VIP function at the Iona Performing Arts Centre, attended by AFL officials from Melbourne, government representatives and members of the 2026 Iona First XVIII team.
The St Eugene’s lighting project involved the installation of 120 lux floodlight lighting, installed in July 2025.
The increased capacity of the field under lights not only benefits Iona students, but provides additional green space for local clubs needing facilities for training – including Morningside Panthers, who were partners with Iona in delivering the project.
This partnership between the school and club will see more than 1000 hours of community access available annually.
The project was funded through Iona College, the AFL’s Breaking New Ground Partnership and AFL Queensland’s Grand Final Facilities Fund.
Iona College Principal Trevor Goodwin said the award was fitting recognition for a partnership that met Iona’s mission of serving the 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.
“To have that commitment to community honoured nationally today with the Ken Gannon Award, particularly in the context of the quality of this year’s other finalists, and to be the first school in Australia to win the award is just incredible.
“Such a prestigious award speaks volumes about the significance of this project in regard to its community impact, as well as Iona’s wonderful partnership with the AFL and the hard work of so many people who brought this project to fruition.
“Iona is blessed with wonderful facilities, and our AFL complex at St Eugene’s Park is certainly a source of pride for our students. Thanks to this project and partnership with the AFL, we are able to share these facilities at a greater capacity in service of our community.”
AFL Head of Venue Network Enhancements and Partnerships, Shayne Ward congratulated everyone involved in Iona College project, along with all the national finalists.
“On behalf of the AFL I’d like to congratulate Iona College on winning the Ken Gannon Community Football Facility Award for 2025, as well as all the finalists who took home their state and territory titles,” he said.
“Iona College’s lighting project is a perfect example of what’s possible through the Breaking New Ground program, which is about improving existing spaces for football utilisation.
“This area of Brisbane is fast-growing, with participation rates increasing each year.
“The lighting installation, paired with community access agreements, will extend the available hours of Australian rules football utilisation in the area, while providing state of the art upgrades to the school.
“This is a great outcome for both the sport and the school.”
Head of AFL Queensland, Richie Lyons said Iona College’s floodlight project will play a key role in maintaining participation growth in the region.
“I congratulate Iona College on winning this prestigious award, the second year in a row for a Queensland facility,” he said.
“Through the installation of these lights and engagement with local community football, Iona College are enhancing facility capacity by catering to the increasing participation in the region and reducing the pressure on existing community club facilities.
“Morningside is one of the largest community clubs in Australia and are experiencing significant growth in the women and girls and juniors space.
“Allowing Morningside access to Iona’s playing fields, has alleviated pressure on available greenspace for participants and ultimately will allow more people to have the opportunity to love and connect with our game.
“Congratulations to Iona and thank you to the Queensland Government as this would not have been possible without their support of AFL Queensland’s Grand Final Facilities Fund.”
2025 State Finalists:
• NSW/ACT – Bob Prenter Reserve Facility Upgrade
• NT – Maningrida Sports Upgrades
• SA – Barossa Park Development
• TAS – Windsor Park Oval Redevelopment
• VIC – Alexandra Park Pavilion Redevelopment
• WA – Halesworth Park Development
