Sports funding gets the Gladstone community moving

Netballers, swimmers and other sports participants from Gladstone will benefit from nearly $36,000 in Bligh Government funding as part of the Sport and Recreation Active Inclusion program.

Active Inclusion offers special funding to sport and recreation clubs looking to build their own capacity through enhanced education and training programs, the recruitment and retention of volunteers, and by encouraging participation in sport and recreation from within their community.

Sport Minister Phil Reeves said the Queensland Government, through the 2010-11 Budget, is providing funding over and above standard streams to help sport and recreation clubs develop and enhance their own resource as they look to grow and attract new membership.

“Local communities thrive through participation at local sport and recreation clubs, and that’s why we are supporting them to be as successful and inclusive as they can be,” Mr Reeves said.

“Clubs will be able to build their capacity by providing accredited training to their volunteers, such as referees, coaches, and first aid officers, and by supporting clubs to hold come and try days to boost their membership.”

The local organisations to receive funding are:

·Boyne Tannum Cricket Club to provide risk management training for volunteers and develop policies to support cricket at Tannum Sands - $4,700;

·Curtis Coast Dolphins Netball Association to provide an ongoing Club education program for netball at Boyne Island - $4,850;

·Gladstone District Dirtriders Club to provide risk management training for volunteers to support motor sports at Benaraby - $4,150;

·Gladstone Rugby Football League Referee's Association to conduct referee accreditation and training for juniors and youth at risk to support rugby league at Gladstone - $4,000;

·Meteors Sports Club to provide administration and governance training to support multisport at Gladstone - $5,000;

·Past Brothers' Junior Rugby League Football Club to conduct coach, league safe and first aid accreditation to support rugby league at Gladstone - $4,980;

·Tannum Sands Surf Life Saving Club to provide coach, official and age manager accreditation to support surf life saving at Tannum Sands - $5,000;

·Western Suburbs (Gladstone) Swimming Club to provide pool plant operator training to volunteers for swimming at Gladstone - $3,000.

Mr Reeves, who announced the new and improved suite of sport and recreation funding programs earlier this year, said the programs are designed to increase participation, recruit volunteers, and encourage disadvantaged communities to participate in sport and recreation.

“One of the targets in the Bligh Government’s blueprint for the next decade, Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland, is to help Queenslanders become Australia’s healthiest people by 2020,” he said.

“The benefits of regular physical activity are well-documented and our investment in sport and recreation is focussed on making sure everyone has an opportunity to get out and get active.

“Queensland invests more funding in sport and recreation than the other state in Australia, which helps to keep Queenslanders fit and healthy, and rewards us with the best sporting teams and athletes in the country.”

Media contact: 3224 7081 or 3235 9236

Notes to Editors

The Sport and Recreation Active Inclusion Program supports communities by providing funding for activities and education to increase access to sport and recreation for individuals and groups facing barriers to participation within the community.

Funding is available under the following 3 categories:

·Participation initiatives - Projects that encourage greater opportunities to be involved in sport and recreation.

·Education and training programs - Training activities that develop the skills of service providers.

·Volunteer development and recruitment - Activities that support organisations with the recruitment and retention of volunteers.

Organisations eligible to apply:

·Queensland not-for-profit organisations

·Councils

·Queensland State schools

·A sport or recreation body that can deliver suitable projects to the target groups

For more information go to http://www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/Funding.aspx