https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/sporting-chance-guidelines-to-strain-diminshing-regional-sport-volunteer-base/news-story/bedc616eb8d769e16d890da41ec06b22
IN the decade Tania Hocking has volunteered in Townsville football, the faces alongside her have largely stayed the same. And when the prosperity of regional sport is at stake, that is not necessarily a good thing. The Brothers Townsville Football Club secretary has worn various hats in the past 10 years – from coaching to team management to the vice-presidency. In that time she has noticed a diminishing volunteer base across the region, with those still performing their duties the same people as when Hocking started. Now the coronavirus pandemic has heightened the responsibility of these volunteers to ensure the return to play guidelines are adhered to. The fear Hocking has is that the demand will drive these individuals away. For instance, Hocking said the guidelines around cleaning toilets in addition to managing the number of people in the vicinity was far too much for a smaller volunteer base to manage – particularly in a public space. She said while parents had mostly been adaptable to the ever-changing climate, many had voiced their concerns and issues with how the rules will impact their child.
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https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/sporting-chance-north-queensland-in-need-of-elite-pathways-boost/news-story/f72ef16acd7eebabc22c31f3efa81fb6
TO be the best you have to take on the best, but an unfortunate reality for aspiring North Queensland athletes is that chances to test their abilities are often kept to the state’s southeast. Northern Rays chairman Michael Brennan labelled it “the tyranny of distance”. In 2019 the Sapphire Series franchise, brought on to the scene to provide a pathway for North Queensland netballers, struggled financially as players travelled to and from Townsville, Mackay and Cairns. Such was the strain it put on the club to survive, the decision was made to centralise the team in Townsville from 2020 onwards. The burden almost caused them to fold, only for a host of local sponsors to pull them out of the doldrums. But Brennan said that it was the reality of any sporting organisation in the North – the cost of regional travel to the metropolitan areas was a factor that their southeast rivals did not have to contend with. He said there was a need to rethink the way funds were distributed to enable regional North Queensland athletes to enter elite pathways. https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/call-to-arms-for-townsville-and-regional-sport-sponsors-to-stay-on-board/news-story/5654469085580310aeda963f6abc47ea
WITHOUT sponsors and a dedicated volunteer base, regional sport could cease to exist. Sponsorships play a crucial role in clubs and organisations remaining sustainable, however the coronavirus pandemic has created a harsh economic climate for businesses to navigate. Because of this impact — culminating in Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declaring the country in a recession — the way in which local ventures have been hit by COVID-19 will limit the capacity in which they can offer their support. Mendi Group managing director Jeff Doyle and his team have been fortunate enough to get through the health crisis in a position to continue their ongoing support for Townsville sport — including Brothers junior and senior rugby league. But not all businesses will be able to do the same. |