Clubs get grants to cover costs

FIFTEEN of the area’s sports clubs are each receiving a grant of one thousand dollars as part of the State government’s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package.

Beneficiaries including Ballarat Bowling Club, Forest Rangers Soccer Club and Midlands Golf Club are receiving the cash to make their post-pandemic transition and recovery a little easier.

A not-for-profit organisation, Ballarat Football Netball Club is getting an injection. Secretary, Kylie Scobie said the funds will go a long way.

“We put in for every grant we possibly can. To win a grant always means a lot to a club that runs with sponsors and donations,” she said.

“There’s always things that need to be done around the club in regards to new padding for goal posts, whether it’s netball or football, new training equipment or balls for the kids… Everything’s always a help, so it’s certainly appreciated.”

The grant is especially helpful at this time when the club hasn’t got any fees coming in, as the community recovers from the impacts of COVID-19 together.

“Our teams are training. There are costs like electricity. We want to do what we can, get seniors and kids back out there training doing what they love and have that community spirit,” Ms Scobie said.

“Any bit of money that we can receive that can go back into the club, help get the kids back out there and enjoying it will always be an advantage.”

Jenny Leviston, secretary of Western Croquet Club said her group hasn’t been taking green fees from their 50 members for the last three months while they’ve been in isolation, so the $1000 grant will cover maintenance costs.

“Our lawns need watering, mowing, fertilising, and the green waste needs to be removed,” she said.

“We’re all seniors, all on limited incomes. We still need to cover those costs, so that’s what the money will be used for to defray the amount of money we’ve lost during lockdown.

“It’s very welcome, otherwise we would have had a sausage sizzle or raffle to raise that money.”

Ballarat Pony Club, Ballarat Royals Baseball Club, Brown Hill Cricket Club, North Ballarat Football Club, North Ballarat Junior Football Club, North Ballarat Sports Club, Victoria Bowling Club, Ballarat Field and Game, Buninyong Cricket Club and Lexton Football and Netball Club are also beneficiaries.

Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle said these sports clubs, and more, are integral community hubs. The $1000 bundles help to get bills paid and aid the transition back to play.

“Ensuring community sport and active recreation organisations survive this crisis and come back better than ever is critical to our economic and social recovery, and to our community’s physical and mental wellbeing,” she said.