Bushfire relief for community sports clubs

Premier John Brumby and Federal Minister for Families Jenny Macklin today announced a $3 million community sports club recovery fund to support sports clubs devastated by the bushfires.

Mr Brumby said sports clubs were important centres for many communities and would be vital in the rebuilding process.

“Sporting clubs are at the heart of many communities, providing a place for families and friends to get together,” Mr Brumby said.

“Many sports clubs have been destroyed and many sports fields have been burnt by the fires and rebuilding them will help reconnect communities and provide recreational activity for people who have lost so much.

“This is the worst disaster Australia has ever faced and we have a massive task of rebuilding affected communities and providing assistance to rebuild sporting clubs will go a long way to helping the recovery.”

Ms Macklin said the fund would help community sports clubs get back on their feet after the devastation of the bushfires.

“Sporting facilities are an integral part of regional and rural communities. This fund will help bushfire affected communities slowly rebuild after the devastating fires,” Ms Macklin said.

“Many towns lost so much in the fires and this is an important first step in picking up the pieces and helping people rebuild their lives.”

Grants of up to $100,000 will be available for sports clubs in bushfire affected areas for rebuilding and reparation works. Funding will come from the Commonwealth and State Government’s $10 million Community Recovery Fund.

Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino said that cricket, footy and soccer clubs play important roles in many Victorian communities.

“The Cougars cricket team certainly plays a vital part in the Strathewen community. Despite mass devastation to their community, the team still played – and won – an away match last weekend,” Mr Merlino said.