SOME of Ipswich’s hardest flood- hit sporting clubs will soon be able to call on professional help for everything from fundraising to marketing.
A $312,000 Queensland Government grant means two new sport and recreation coordinators will soon be on call to support 11 different local sporting groups.
The Ipswich Jets and Queensland Netball Association will share in the three-year funding package that will see the coordinators work closely with sporting volunteers to ensure the viability of their clubs.
Jets Leagues Club general manager Justin Halls said his club was excited about increasing its engagement with the community.
“The problem most clubs face at the moment is there is a lot of paperwork and most clubs don’t have the resources to do those kinds of things,” he said. “This enables us to use the resources we have within the organisation to assist those clubs.”
State Member for Ipswich Wayne Wendt said having a coordinator based at the Jets Leagues Club made perfect sense.
“This is about giving our young kids the best possible chance to play at the highest level and the Jets are the highest-level team we have in Ipswich,” Wendt said.
Previously, clubs in Ipswich needed to petition the State Government for funding through grant applications, something many organisations found very difficult. Once the coordinators begin work early next year, club administrators will be able to seek help and advice for their club’s individual needs.
Leanne Haley from Northern Suburbs Hockey Club said she knew exactly what her club’s first request would be.
“I hope they can help with recruitment,” she said.
“This year we had no under-11 or under-13 boys teams so anything they can do to lift the profile of hockey and get more people to play will be great.”
Funding for the two coordinators is part of the State Government’s Local Sport and Recreation Jobs Plan program.