MOYNE Shire has thrown its support behind the Grassmere Cricket Association via a hefty sponsorship deal.
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Councillors unanimously voted to give the GCA $9000 for each of the next three years.
All nine clubs – Grassmere, Hawkesdale, Killarney, Mailors Flat, Panmure, Purnim, Wangoom, Woolsthorpe and Yambuk – are located in Moyne Shire.
The $27,000 deal was welcomed by the association, which will be officially known as the Moyne Shire Grassmere Cricket Association.
Councillor Daniel Meade said it was a “unique opportunity” to do a lot of good for many communities by supporting one organisations.
“There are 22 teams across nine clubs,” Cr Meade said.
“This sponsorship of the Grassmere Cricket Association is a great opportunity to support a league wholly (contained within) Moyne Shire.”
He said the association promoted “social, mental and physical wellbeing”.
“Cricket is a great outlet for families in this communities,” Cr Meade said.
“There are 250 players and a lot more volunteers.”
Association president Jason Elliott said the nine clubs were rapt with the deal.
“I can’t think of another situation where a partnership has been struck like this between a sporting competition and a local shire,” Elliott said.
“(Moyne Shire) have got a strong focus on looking after rural communities and participation. Our competition is a little bit unique in that it’s competitive cricket on the field, but it has a really strong social side with the clubs and the way they all get along really well.
“We rely on that to make the competition stronger and it’s a good outlet (for the communities).”
Elliott said the $27,000 deal will help relieve financial strain on clubs while ensuring the association has a strong future.
“(The funding will) help to keep costs to clubs to a minimum,” he said.
“It eases pressure on volunteers and participants because it doesn’t put extra pressure (on clubs) for fundraising. Cricket has got to move with the times to stay viable and the best way to do that is to make sure it’s as cost effective as possible.
“We have a really strong culture with past players becoming umpires, so this helps with umpire training.
“What (the sponsorship deal) does is it gives the people out there doing the hard yards at a club level a sign that the local shire and association appreciates what they do. Something like this gives us not only financial help, but also a bit of belief.”
The GCA season gets underway on October 14.