Sporting clubs kick cash goals to stop injury

Dion Teasdale
FOUR Upper Yarra sporting clubs have received much needed funding as part of a statewide scheme aimed at preventing injuries.
Three Upper Yarra football clubs and one cricket club have been granted funding under the 2005 VicHealth Sports Injury Prevention Scheme.
Powelltown Football Club has been awarded $1200, Woori Yallock Junior Football Club $690, Yarra Junction Cricket Club $1236 and Yarra Junction Junior Football Club will receive $1840.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato welcomed the grants, adding they would encourage increased participation in sport.
“The prospect of suffering an injury can deter people from becoming involved in sporting activities,” Ms Lobato said.
“These grants are important because they promote healthy involvement in sport while lessening the chance of participants incurring injuries.
“They are great news for our local sporting clubs and will enable them to purchase safety equipment and further reduce the risk of injuries.”
Ms Lobato said the scheme also gives preference to the sports that sustain the highest rate of injuries as identified by statewide hospital admissions data, as well as to junior sports.
She said about 630 applications were received with VicHealth allocating $596,303.00 in grants to 369 sporting clubs.
Further information on VicHealth programs is available at www.vichealth.vic.gov.au.