FIFTEEN of the area\u2019s sports clubs are each receiving a grant of one thousand dollars as part of the State government\u2019s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A not-for-profit organisation, Ballarat Football Netball Club is getting an injection. Secretary, Kylie Scobie said the funds will go a long way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always things that need to be done around the club in regards to new padding for goal posts, whether it\u2019s netball or football, new training equipment or balls for the kids… Everything\u2019s always a help, so it\u2019s certainly appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n
The grant is especially helpful at this time when the club hasn\u2019t got any fees coming in, as the community recovers from the impacts of COVID-19 together.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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,\u201d Ms Scobie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenny Leviston, secretary of Western Croquet Club said her group hasn\u2019t been taking green fees from their 50 members for the last three months while they\u2019ve been in isolation, so the $1000 grant will cover maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur lawns need watering, mowing, fertilising, and the green waste needs to be removed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all seniors, all on limited incomes. We still need to cover those costs, so that\u2019s what the money will be used for to defray the amount of money we\u2019ve lost during lockdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very welcome, otherwise we would have had a sausage sizzle or raffle to raise that money.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnsuring 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\u2019s physical and mental wellbeing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FIFTEEN of the area\u2019s sports clubs are each receiving a grant of one thousand dollars as part of the State government\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n