Dragons’ program gets national recognition

SANDHURST Football Netball Club have been officially recognised as the national runners up at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Awards in the Mental Health category.

Sandhurst president Mark O’Farrell said the COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on members and was the catalyst to seek positive development in player’s mental health.

“We began in 2020 and each year we have run different programs along the way and our players have actively participated in that,” he said.

“We believe where our playing group is now is a significant improvement to where they were three years ago and that’s purely as a result of the programs we have run.”

Mr O’Farrell said after a slow start the club has broken the stigma surrounding mental health challenges for players, their families, and the community.

“It was a slow process for the first 12 months,” he said.

“After a program or two they realised that it’s ok to say that you are struggling and the more you admit you are struggling the better it will be for everyone.”

Mr O’Farrell also thanked non-profit organisation Sports Focus and the club’s members for making the award recognition possible.

“Our Golden Dragon Coterie Group has funded all our programs,” he said. “Which has really assisted with being able to provide quality programs to our players.”

Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, visited the club last week to congratulate members and said she hopes the award inspires other regional teams.

“It’s really exciting that one of our clubs is being recognised at a national level for the work that they are doing,” she said.

“I am really hoping that it will encourage other clubs around regional Victoria and Australia to look at what Sandhurst are doing and potentially tack on their own programs.”