TAB grant gives club ‘financial stability’

Harvey Netball Association recently received a hefty grant from the Community TAB of Racing and Wagering WA program.

The program, which was launched two years ago, aims to assist sporting clubs across WA.

To celebrate its success, community TAB provided grants of up to $4000 to a club each day for a week from September 23 to 29.

Harvey Netball Association was one of the seven sporting clubs to received the grant, and president Lindzee Blackburn said the club was excited.

“It’s exciting to have been acknowledged by a large organisation like TAB that is outside our community,” Ms Blackburn said.

“Our focus at the moment is trying to get some financial stability and raise awareness about Harvey Netball within Harvey, and with this grant we are able to do that.

“Without this grant, we probably wouldn’t be in existence in the next few years.

Ms Blackburn said the club would use the grant towards up-skilling the coaches and umpires.

“We want to put all of our coaches through their foundation and development accreditation and get any of our umpires that want to be badged up to standard, which works out at about $300 per person,” she said.

“We’re also hoping to build our carnival kit, purchase a marquee for outdoor events and purchase some new first aid equipment for when we play away games.”

RWWA chief executive Richard Burt said the initiative presented a great opportunity for the WA sporting industry.

“Grants like these mean so much to clubs and communities, we understand it takes time and resources to keep a club running, and we see the importance sport plays in local communities,” Mr Burt said.

Since the launch of the program in 2017, the community TAB has contributed a total of $168,000 in grants to 27 regional and 25 metropolitan sporting clubs across the State.