In late November, to end a disrupted year of fundraising efforts and grant applications, the shortfall for the resurfacing of the Garfield Netball Club’s substandard courts stood at around $2000.
The prize for sharing the WorkSafe Initiative at the 2020 Netball Victoria Community Awards announced on December 4th: a $2000 voucher that will balance the ledger when works start in February.
Call it serendipity. Perfect timing. Fate, even. Or as a thrilled and grateful Garfield secretary Sherryn Clarke expressed it: “This has saved our butts, really!’’
From four finalists in the category that rewards good safety practices in the WorkSafe Country Netball League, the joint winners are located just 35 kilometres apart along the Bunyip River Road, south-east of Melbourne.
Both Garfield and Tooradin Dalmore compete in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition, and there is also some common ground among initiatives that have been implemented for health and safety purposes.
Among the key examples at Tooradin Dalmore, for example: identifying unsafe courts and working with the City of Casey on a 2020 upgrade that included NV compliant goal rings; employing a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach to implement a "knee program” for juniors and seniors; new goal post padding; and organising (Covid-delayed) mental health and wellbeing sessions with SALT for all club members, including players and volunteers.
“We’re super-excited about it,’’ says Tooradin Dalmore’s Julia Hobbs of the recognition and $2000 voucher. “We do put time and energy in to ensure we provide a safe environment … it’s something we strive to do.’’
At nearby Garfield, the two asphalt courts had grass growing through cracks widening beyond the 20-cent-sized maximum and were so slippery as to be tagged out as unusable in wet weather. Even when the juniors were cleared to return to competition in July, their home venue, sadly, was not.
Close to 15 years after the last major upgrade, the Cardinia Shire chipped in around half of the $28,000 resurfacing cost, with the rest raised through events such as a pre-Covid outdoor cinema night and trivia function as well as a pie drive - all supported by the local community.
Still, the need was urgent and the deficit $2000. Until now.
“We got the courts cleaned last year in the hope that would help. It didn’t help,’’ says Clarke. “We check absolutely everything, before every training and every game, and they just weren’t up to scratch safety-wise, so can’t use ‘em. No deal.’’
What Garfield does have, though, are medical professionals among its playing and coaching community who drive a strong health focus, including a new on-site defibrillator and annual training programs for at least 10 qualified operators.
“Our A-grade coach is a nurse, and she’s really good at making sure there’s even someone always there that’s strapping-trained, so we are really lucky on that front,’’ says Clarke.
The support reaches far beyond the little two-court, 80-player club applauded for a range of safety measures that include goal post padding and hazard marking, first-aid duty officers and injury management protocols, and a canteen managed by a certified food handler checked and approved annually by the council.
“The whole community has really been behind us in supporting our fundraising - all the cafes had our posters up, they’ve all been sharing our pie drives. Anything we give a go, they’re all in it,’’ says Clarke, whose parents built the courts and clubhouse many decades ago.
“The support of the entire community just makes a huge difference.’’
WorkSafe Executive Director External Affairs Sam Jenkin congratulated the Garfield Netball Club and Tooradin Dalmore Netball Club on each winning a WorkSafe Initiative Award in Netball Victoria's 2020 Community Awards.
"Country Football Netball Clubs are often the heart of the community, so it is fantastic to see both these clubs implement safety practices and policies to ensure their clubs are safe places for the community," Mr Jenkin said.
"We're pleased to be able to support the Garfield and Tooradin Dalmore clubs with $2000 cash prizes which will go towards further safety initiatives for the 2021 season.
"WorkSafe has worked hard throughout the year to keep local sporting clubs connected so it's great to see them bouncing back into action.”
Written by Linda Pearce
