Mount Gambier City Council has announced its Junior Sports Assistance Fund will waive membership fees for member organisations in 2022-23.
In a bid to continue to provide financial relief to affiliated sporting organisations, the Junior Sports Assistance Fund committee endorsed the recommendation at its Annual General Meeting.
When the committee met, they were presented with three options.
To retain, reduce by 50%, or waive the fees, totalling $8500.
The decision was made to continue to assist sporting clubs focus on rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund currently has 15 sporting organisations as formal members and has distributed more than $600,000 to junior sports persons and coaching clinics since its inception in 1988.
In his report to council, committee secretary and council’s City and Community Growth general manager Tim Coote said the fund does have the capacity to provide relief of certain financial obligations.
“Whilst things have settled somewhat, the number of applications for funding for state and national events continue to be quite low,” he said.
“To assist our sporting members, an option to waive member contributions could assist clubs to continue to regroup following a difficult few years.”
Mr Coote said the last change to the financial contributions was made in 2014-15 with the minimum being $400 and maximum being $800.
He said the fund was in a “very sound” financial position.
The Junior Sports Assistance Fund provides financial assistance to local junior sportspersons of Mount Gambier and district who have achieved as a minimum, selection in a formal state team and who compete at national sporting events.
Mr Coote said the fund helps alleviate the financial burden these events place on regional families.
“The fund provides an ongoing pool of money for distribution to those juniors selected to represent the state or to represent Australia or equivalent and it also provides additional funding sourced from external sponsorship which is awarded to an exceptional junior on an annual basis,” he said.
Member contributions will be reviewed at the next AGM in 2023.
