Monday 5^th October 2020

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced six grants have recently been approved in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley under the second round of the Government’s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package.

The successful organisations are:

• Ellinbank and District Netball Association Incorporated
• Warragul & District Amateur Basketball Association
• West Gippsland Bowls Division Inc
• 1^st Nar Nar Goon Scout Group
• Buln Buln Tennis Club Inc
• Cowwarr Football Netball Club Inc

These are the second round of grants from the Andrews Labor Government’s $40 million community sport survival package that will make it that little bit easier for clubs to support players and volunteers during this time.

Victorians have been hit hard by the necessary restrictions, and sport and active recreation clubs and associations are no exception.

The Victorian Government will continue to work with the sport and recreation sector to explore recovery options and help clubs return to play when it is safe to do so.

With more than three million Victorians involved in community sport and recreation, we know that getting back on the field or court is important to Victorians – that’s why we are getting behind 12,000 clubs and associations across the state.

The Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package has two streams: grants for state sporting associations, regional sports assemblies and academies and other state sport and recreational bodies; and grants of up to $2,000 for associations and leagues and up to $1,000 for individual clubs.

Applications under Stream 2 are open until 16 October 2020. For further information and other grant opportunities visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.

The Government also recently announced its roadmap to COVID normal. This directive signals the first major steps in the return of community sport in Victoria. For all the latest roadmap information including an outline of the roadmap Step process visit https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-roadmaps

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“Sport and active recreation organisations are an integral part of our community and this support will help them pay the bills and make an eventual return to play that little bit easier.”

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

“We know that people in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley want to get out on the park and represent their local club more than ever – we’re working hard to make that happen and give local clubs the support they need.”