Sporting clubs to benefit from development opportunity

Published on 21 December 2023

The Cohuna Golf Bowls Club and Kerang Football Netball Club will spend the next 12 months working with Sports Focus to help identify issues and determine future priorities.

The clubs were successful in applying for the Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee-supported opportunity, which is one of numerous initiatives occurring to help the Gannawarra’s recovery from the October-December 2022 floods.

“The Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee thanks the six clubs that took the time to apply for this amazing opportunity, with all applicants demonstrating that our sporting clubs play a key role in supporting our communities during times of need,” Mayor Ross Stanton said.

The Cohuna Golf Bowls Club will use the support to increase volunteer and membership numbers.

“Working with Sports Focus is an opportunity to involve our members in what is important to them and to keep players participating in a welcoming environment,” the club said.

The Kerang Football Netball Club will use its participation in the program to progress the club and improve knowledge regarding strategies that will help to strengthen its volunteer numbers.

“We feel privileged to be able to be involved with this program, as it is important for our club to maximise the assistance given so that our club members and our community will benefit from the learnings that we receive,” the club said.

“The Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee looks forward to seeing these two clubs work with Sports Focus on addressing these concerns and developing actions plans that can be implemented to help these clubs grow,” Mayor Stanton said.

Funding for this opportunity is supported by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) as part of the Gannawarra Community Flood Recovery Program.

As part of the ongoing commitment to acknowledge the role sport and recreation clubs and organisations played during response and recovery efforts, the Gannawarra Sporting Club Dinner will be held on Thursday, 15 February 2024.

Former 10 News First and Sports Tonight host, Brad McEwan will the special guest at this event, with invitations to be sent to Gannawarra-based sports and recreation clubs in the coming weeks.

“The Gannawarra Sporting Club Dinner will provide a fantastic opportunity to bring our local sporting club leaders together to connect and to hear from Brad, who is passionate about sport and recreation and the future of small towns,” Mayor Stanton said.