Panthers on the prowl thanks to $90,000 SRA

The West Inala Panthers Rugby League Club has been kitted out for season 2006 as part of a $90,000 Shared Responsibility Agreement signed with the Howard Government today.

Officially presenting new club jerseys to the Open Division team in Brisbane, Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough said the funding would also provide training and gym equipment, and fund a sport and health development officer.

In exchange, the Inala community will use its love of rugby league as an incentive to reduce passive welfare and anti-social behaviour, develop a club Code of Conduct and alcohol management strategies. It will also undertake workshops on health, fitness and anger management.

West Inala Panthers Chairperson Mr Robert (Bimbo) Duncan Snr jointly signed the SRA with Mr Brough. Mr Brough said the SRA has been driven by the club and the local community and adds to the 154 agreements which have already been signed around Australia.

"The Inala community is using their passion for Rugby League as a platform to strengthen community pride, unity and improve the lives of Indigenous Australians," Mr Brough said.

"As the team puts it, through Rugby League they can achieve ‘positive living and positive lives’, which is the slogan of this SRA."

Mr Brough said rugby league provided many social benefits to the community by getting people fit, healthy and active.

"The Inala community identified this sporting initiative as their preferred way to deal with issues important to them and I am pleased to support them with an Australian Government funding contribution," Mr Brough said.

"The community is setting an example by creating its own solutions to deal with issues associated with violent behaviour."

The signing of the SRA coincides with 50 years of rugby league in Inala.