Sport
4 November, 2023
Cash boost for Hampden clubs
TWO Hampden League clubs will share in more than $600,000 in state government funding in an effort to eliminate road trauma.
In a statement released earlier this week, the Victorian Government and Transport Accident Commission listed more than 250 clubs to receive rewards of up to $10,000.
Listed among the recipients were the North Warrnambool Eagles Football Netball Club ($4300) and Port Fairy Football Netball Club ($1800).
Football and netball clubs across Victoria have been allocated funds in this year’s round of the TAC Club Rewards program.
This program is aimed at highlighting grassroots clubs across the state who showed a commitment to promote road safety during the 2023 season.
Delivered in partnership with AFL Victoria, this year’s grant recipients total the highest number in the program’s five-year history.
The program encourages clubs to engage with players, members and their communities on key road safety issues and promote safe behaviours, with the dangers of distracted driving a key focus of this year’s campaign.
Successful clubs are able to use the money for a range of initiatives including education programs, club transport initiatives, new equipment and uniforms, and facility upgrades and improvements.
So far this year, 236 people have died on Victoria’s roads and more than half of those deaths have happened in regional areas, where tens of thousands of local footballers and netballers travel for games and training.
Distracted driving is one of the major causes of fatal and serious injury crashes on Victoria’s roads and is particularly concerning on regional roads where people are travelling at higher speeds.
AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs from across the state were able to apply for the program by showing how they supported road safety throughout the year, including taking part in the TAC’s Road Safety Round ‘Band Together’ campaign.
The TAC Club Rewards Program is part of the TAC’s 31-year partnership with AFL Victoria, which aims to empower clubs to develop a culture where all players and members are expected to be safe on the roads.