27 Oct 2008
National Club News is a ClubsAustralia Publication
The Aussie Spirit
Clubs have a strong bond with our nation's wartime past.
Our RSL clubs open their doors to new generations, building relationships, passing on stories and displaying regalia. But nothing builds greater understanding of the effort and sacrifice of our Diggers than an opportunity to walk in their shoes.
On Saturday 27 September, ClubsAustralia farewelled nine young Australians on their way to trek the Kokoda Trail. The nine are winners of the 'Clubs Kokoda Challenge' competition run around Australia. They were selected from over 1,000 applicants. Aged between 16-22, each winner receives around $6,000 in assistance from their State of Territory club association, to cover the cost of equipment and travel, helping them make the journey of a lifetime to Papua New Guinea.
The Challenge is expected to become an annual event sponsored by club associations.
One of the participants is 17 year old Phoebe Tucker from Capel, WA. Phoebe is a member of the Army Reserve and represented WA at the 2007 Pony Club National Championships. Two of her Uncles served in Papua New Guinea during the War. 22 year old Kate Sullivan from Roseville, NSW is a fourth year medical student. Her grandfather fought on Kokoda and Kate has helped establish the Kokoda Hospital project to provide access to medical care for residents of the kokoda Trail. The other seven participants are equally impressive.
The Kokoda Youth Leadership Clubs Challenge embodies the spirit of clubs - sporting endeavour, community, giving back, and honouring the efforts of previous generations.
ClubsAustralia is proud to be able to open the eyes of these young Australians to the heritage that we all inherited at Kokoda.
The Olympics
Providing world class sporting facilities for our Olympians.
All of us take immense pride in the success of Australia's athletes on the international stage.
Producing world's best sportsmen and women, with a talent pool of 20 million compared to work population of 6.7 billion, requires more than good genetics.
Youngsters must be given opportunities to show their potential at a variety of sports, supported financially and provided with world's best training and facilities.
That's why our not-for-profit Club Movement is so important.
Clubs support grassroots and elite sport, sponsoring junior teams and partnering with Institutes of Sport to provide world class sporting facilities.
ClubsNSW has been principle partner of the NSW Institute of Sport since 1995, giving $1 million per year. Through this affiliation, ClubsNSW has contributed over $12 million and have extended their support until 2012 with a further $5 million giving NSW's elite athletes financial certainty through the London Olympics.
Individual clubs around the country give hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to sport.
For example the Lawnton Swimming Club, supported by Redcliffe Leagues Club in Queensland, has produced 30 swimmers who have represented Australia including Leisel Jones and Jessica Schipper as well as Paralympic athletes.
Clubs also provide sport for our ageing population, such as bowls and golf. Through the encouragement of a life-long engagement with sport, clubs are helping make Australians healtheir and ensuring Australia remains among the world's best sporting nations.
If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in this newsletter or club related matters, please email peter@clubswa.com.au or call 08 9312 1655.