Grant eases burden on local clubs

MORE than three dozen sporting clubs in the South Barwon region have been recipients of the state government’s Community Sports Survival Grant.

The grant provides $1,000 to sporting clubs and up to $15,000 for associations and leagues to help them cope with the effects of coronavirus.

Torquay Tigers Cricket Club are one of the 39 clubs to recently receive a $1,000 grant from the program.

Lockdown restrictions meant both the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association (BPCA) and the Geelong Cricket Association (GCA) had to end their 2019/20 seasons midway through finals.

Torquay’s Tigers Cricket Club president Rob Dunne said there was still uncertainty over how the 2020/21 season will run but it was inevitable cricket clubs would be financially affected by the virus.

“It’s still a little bit fluid. Junior football is playing which is fantastic, although that might prevent some of the grounds being ready in the GCA. We’re planning as though we’re going to start in October, but that remains to be seen.

“It impacts all clubs with the ability to generate financial gain because local businesses sponsor the clubs. So, it’s very hard to acquire sponsorships as we have done previously. The ability for us to have a function in the clubroom also as it stands is basically negligible.”

Dunne said he believed the grants would benefit the broader community as well as the individual clubs.

“I think one of the most important things for community rehabilitation will be community sports. So it’s really pleasing from a club point of view, and as a parent, and as a community-minded person. We’re very thankful.”

Funding was given to a wide range of clubs, with Modewarre and District Anglers Club being another recent recipient.

Club secretary Ian Pickering said the funds were crucial to the club, as it presently has no source of income.

“In June we normally do a Bunnings sausage sizzle, and that covers us for our insurance and all those sorts of things.”

The club is nearly 70 years old, and Pickering said he hoped the grant would ensure it lived on for some time yet.

“It’s a very old club and this grant gives us quite a bit of security.”

Among the other recent recipients of the grant are Geelong Amateur Football Netball Club, Barrabool Cricket Club Inc, Barwon Valley Pony Club, Deakin Baseball Club Inc, Deakin Ducks Football Club Inc, Geelong Calisthenics College, Jan Juc Cricket Club, Modewarre Cricket Club, Sharks Basketball Club, Surfcoast Basketball Association Incorporated, and Geelong Field And Game Inc, Torquay Surf Life Saving Club, Surfcoast Basketball Club, 1st Grovedale Scout Group, 1st Torquay Scout Group, and 1st Highton Scout Group.