WHAT DOES FREMANTLE OVAL MEAN TO YOU?

The Fremantle Oval Precinct Masterplan is intended to provide a vision for the development of the precinct, establish principles for its ongoing management and operation and assist the City in attracting funding from State and Federal Governments. It builds on previous studies that have been undertaken for the site over the last 10 years.

The redevelopment of the Fremantle Oval Precinct will enable outcomes including:

• A football facility with a capacity of 10,000 – 15,000 patrons (‘Category 4 – Tier 2’ facility)
• An accessible and inclusive community green space in the city centre, capable of hosting events such as ‘High Voltage’
• A visitor experience that is community friendly and encourages a ‘day out’ in Fremantle
• Upgrades and conservation of significant heritage places such as the Victoria Pavilion
• Support for a revitalised Fremantle Hospital and improved visitor experience for Fremantle Prison
• Recognition of Aboriginal people in their contribution to sport at Fremantle Oval and as Traditional Owners of the site
• Support the oval’s current tenants SEDA College and the Stephen Michael Foundation, and attract other education providers
• New, safe pedestrian connections through the precinct
• Development opportunities for new uses that leverage the precinct’s city centre location and complement the precinct’s heritage, sport, health and tourism functions.

City officers aim to:

• Obtain feedback on analysis, alternatives, or decisions.
• Work directly throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered.
• Work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed.
• Provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.

How can the community influence the project?

The City and its project partners are looking for the community’s support in developing the Masterplan. The community’s input will help inform the Masterplan’s vision, its guiding principles, and assist the City in developing partnerships and attracting funding.

The City wants to hear from the community and is asking:

• What is important to you about the oval precinct?
• What are the uses and activities you would like to see there?
• What is important for the City to prioritise and what values need to be balanced as part of the redevelopment?
• What are some of the game-day experiences you would like to see?

Go to the Have Your Say page on the City of Fremantle website, to voice your opinion.

Roel Loopers

THE DALAI LAMA AND THE FREMANTLE DOCKERS

I don’t often write about sport here on Freoview, because I just don’t get the silly, one-eyed, blinkered views of many of the fans. I love watching sport and I have played volleyball, soccer, tennis, squash and badminton in my far too long life. But I will never ever understand the hate many fans have for opposing clubs. It’s a game, not a war!

Anyway, today is the Western Derby between the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles, and the Dockers fans are desperately hoping for divine intervention, as their team started the season with two losses.

The Eagles unexpectedly lost their first game, but surprisingly played well last week and won.

The photo above of the Dalai Lama in the Fremantle Townhall has no doubt inspired many Dockers fans to meditate since midnight and hope for divine intervention, so that their team will play better than the last two games.

As for me, I am hoping for a nice close and competitive game, that I will be watching from the comfort of my couch.

Go the Eagles! 🤪

Roel Loopers

FREE DOCKERS-ADELAIDE GAME AT FREMANTLE OVAL

Photo credit: Fremantle FC

There will be a ‘friendly’ AFL game at Fremantle Oval this Thursday at 4pm and it is a FREE event, so make sure to come early.

The game is between the Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide, so that promises to be a really good game.

The season is starting soon, so the game at Freo Oval will give us some idea how good the Dockers are

Roel Loopers

SHAKEY ART AT BATHERS BEACH

A bit Shakey 🤪

I don’t know what the occasion is, but artist Shakey has painted the side of a sea container with images of the Fremantle Dockers and put it at Bathers Beach.

Shakey clearly has a crystal ball, since he has omitted the Woodside logo from the players’ jerseys.

Roel Loopers

WE ARE THE FREO DOCKERS!

The sloping lawn of the City of Fremantle Walyalup Civic Centre looks a whole lot different, now that the Fremantle Dockers‘ logo has been painted on the grass.

That Cockburn team better don’t let us down!

Go the Dockers!

Roel Loopers

HOW VERY FREO!

It was cold and wet when I left home at 6.45am this Saturday morning, to do my weekly catch up with my mate Henty.

But walking down the Cappuccino Strip I heard loud singing, so I wondered what was going on. It turned out that around 30 Fremantle Dockers fanatics had gathered at Benny’s cafe and bar and were having a good time.

Henty and I met at Il Cibo cafe, opposite the railway station, and while there a young man knocked on the window asking for money. Henty offered to buy him a coffee, so he came in and joined us.

German born Phillip, from Bielefeld, told us that he had voluntarily spent five days at a mental health clinic, after having worked for a few weeks at the roadhouse in Newman. He then proceeded reading the poetry he had written to us, and presented one to me.

It is really special to meet new people and see that so many of us deal with all kinds of different challenges every day. Phillip asked for a topic to write about and I suggested he should consider why it is we never reach the horizon.

Life is wonderful, Freo is great, and somehow I need to learn not to get too down when the weather is miserable.

Have a great day, Freo!

Roel Loopers

DOCKERS HOPE TREND OF NON VICTORIAN TEAMS WINNING WILL CONTINUE

Purple Shipwrecks Museum. Photo: City of Fremantle

Fremantle Dockers fans will hope that the trend of non Victorian teams winning will continue tonight at Optus Oval in Perth.

The Brisbane Lions won on Thursday and the Sydney Swans yesterday, so now it’s the Dockers’ turn to show those Victorians that the AFL is well and truly a national competition.

As a West Coast Eagles fan I wish the Cockburn team a good game.

Roel Loopers

PLENTY OF ACTION AT FISHING BOAT HARBOUR

There is always something going on in Fremantle. Walking along the Fishing Boat Harbour after midday today I spotted the film crew, who are doing a documentary about the Claremont Killer, at the former Joe’s Fishshack. They have been filming in Fremantle for a while, on the streets and in the Old Customs House.

Just behind them, close to Cicerello’s, Channel 7 was interviewing Fremantle Dockers captain Nat Fyfe, with former West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins and reporter Adrian Barich.

Roel Loopers

SUNDAY MORNING ON MARKET STREET

What a wonderful weekend we had in Fremantle, with plenty of sunshine and lots of people visiting our city.

Yesterday the Federal Hotel was absolutely packed full, inside and in the alfresco area, when Dockers fans watched the footy game there. One could hear the roar as far as Walyalup Koort, when the Cockburn team scored a goal.

I took the above photo of Market Street and the railway station at 9am on this lovely Sunday morning.

Roel Loopers

AWFUL FREMANTLE DOCKERS ARE SHOCKERS

I don’t often write about sport, but watched most of the Fremantle Dockers-St Kilda game on TV yesterday, and was truly stunned about the lack of effort and intensity of the home team.

A commentator said that the Dockers needed a spark. Really?! You play your second game of the season and know that your home games will be at Optus Stadium again and you are not motivated? What does that say about the attitude and aptitude of the highly-paid players and extensive coaching staff?

The Fremantle Dockers have been a disappointment for far too many years, and it appears that changing coaches makes very little difference. It’s not good enough! It’s frustrating! It’s annoying!

And those sentiments come from someone who is more of a West Coast Eagles fan. At least that depleted team had a crack, while the Dockers looked tired and not interested in a real tough contest.

Although you are no longer based in Fremantle, you use our city’s name, so do us proud, instead of embarrassing us!

Roel Loopers