A $3000 grant has given Buninyong Cricket Club’s junior teams a powerplay this season.
The grant, awarded by VicHealth this month, will help the club to purchase 10 new helmets, cricket balls, gloves and an In2Cricket kit to encourage young players to sharpen their skills and get active.
Buninyong Cricket Club president Chris Gordon said the committee decided a year ago to make the under-13 and under-14 teams fee-free.
“Our committee members are getting older and are more family oriented. We understand there’s a lot of sport competition out there for kids, be it footy, soccer, basketball, swimming or, of course, beach sports – these all cost a lot of money,” he said.
“The VicHealth grant means that we can continue to keep our junior cricket teams fee-free. It means that we can provide cricket balls for the season and top up our equipment that our kids use.
“We know that sports can get expensive and there are a number of kids that don’t have their own gear so we can provide it for them,” he said.
Club’s members come from as far as Ballarat to play for free and community sponsorship has helped foot the bill so far, but the grant will provide a leg-up, Mr Gordon said.
Buninyong MP Geoff Howard said VicHealth’s Active Club Grants recognise the important role clubs play in increasing physical activity and helping communities connect.
Details: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub
