Community sport in Ballarat has been given a boost thanks to support from the Victorian Government aimed at helping local leagues and associations ride out the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and come back ready to play.

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced $76,000 in grants for local sporting associations from the Victorian Government’s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package.

This will help ten local sporting associations meet fixed costs to ensure they can remain operationally viable and provide a valuable boost for their clubs and membership.

It will also help them safely operate and reactivate at the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chair of the Ballarat Football Umpires Association (BFUA) Justin Davey said they were very appreciative of the support offered, and that 2020 had been a particularly difficult year for the association.

“Whilst we are a tight-knit group, we are concerned at the potential impact of 12 months out of football on our membership” he said. “Following virtually no revenue in 2020, this money will enable us to bounce back, focusing on recruitment and retention of umpires moving into 2021. A strong umpiring association will be a key aspect of the rebounding of football in the region.”

The Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package is rolling out grants in four categories: grants of up to $350,000 for large state sporting associations; grants of up to $200,000 to smaller state sporting associations, regional sports assemblies and academies and other state sport and recreational bodies; grants of up to $15,000 for associations and leagues; and grants of $1,000 for individual clubs.

There are now 200 local leagues and associations across the state who have scored a share in more than $1.4 million thanks to the Victorian Government’s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package.

The grants are part of the Government’s strong investment in supporting community sport and active recreation in these challenging times.

The Victorian Government is also investing $68 million in shovel-ready community sport and active recreation infrastructure projects across the state, to stimulate jobs and economic activity, and deliver fantastic new projects to local communities as part of the new $2.7 Building Works package. 

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Ensuring our 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 Ballarat’s physical and mental wellbeing.” 

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle 

“Our sporting associations play a huge role in keeping local sports alive. These grants will help clubs keep their eye on the ball for a return to play, and I know many people are looking forward to that.”

Quotes attributable to Justin Davey Chair of Ballarat Football Umpires Association

“As a community-focused organisation, we are grateful for the opportunity to use this money for engaging members of the community who may have been impacted by COVID-19. If there are any players out there who may be considering hanging up the boots after this season, there is always an opportunity to stay involved through umpiring.”

Grants were received by