June 19, 2014
Queensland’s “Minister for Fun” Steve Dickson visited the South Burnett on Wednesday to talk to local sporting clubs and inspect projects funded by the State Government’s “Get In The Game” program.
The National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing Minister began his visit by dropping into Taabinga State School to view work on the South Burnett Little Athletics Club’s new storage shed.
In a unique partnership with Education Queensland, the shed is being constructed in the grounds of Taabinga State School – an arrangement which had to be negotiated between two government departments.
SB Little Athletics received $25,457 “Get In The Game” funding to make the shed a reality and purchase some new equipment.
Club grants officer Linda Watt said the club has 65 members, aged from 5 to 17, and last year 15 of its members qualified for State Championships, an amazing strike rate.
The young athletes meet at Taabinga State School every Wednesday afternoon from 4:00pm.
Linda said the club’s vision now was to try to access funding to install lights on the sports field and erect a unisex toilet block.
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Mr Dickson then travelled with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington to the Kingaroy Netball Courts to discuss the club’s upgrade plans for the area.
No application for funding has been completed yet, but Mr Dickson assured Club President Helen Maudsley there was no need to convince him of the importance of netball, or women’s sport in particular.
The club would like to upgrade its facility in Fisher Street to a level which would allow it to host major events such as regional carnivals.
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Third stop on the Minister’s visit was T.J. O’Neill Oval where the Kingaroy Red Ants Rugby League Club has received a $10,000 grant to help it host a match from the Intrust Super Cup in August.
The match, between Wynnum-Manly and Tweed Heads, will kick-off at 2:00pm on Sunday, August 10, and will be telecast live on the Channel 9 network and WIN-TV.
It promises to be the biggest rugby league event in the South Burnett for years.
Red Ants president Mick Dugdell thanked Mr Dickson for the funding and praised the “Get Started” program which has encouraged new players to sign up with the club.
The major sponsor for the Super Cup game in Kingaroy will be FK Gardner & Sons civil contractors (FKG).
South Burnett Regional Council is also providing assistance and local business are also invited to come on board as sponsors.
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Mr Dickson then visited the South Burnett Junior Motorcycle Club track on Edenvale South Road at Kingaroy.
The club, which has 66 members, received approximately $9000 funding from the State Government to hold four “Come and Try” days and purchase a new Yamaha TTR50 motorbike for young riders.
Club president Colin Duffy said two of the “Come and Try” days had already been held. The next will be on August 17.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington gave the new motorbike a big thumbs up after taking it for a quick spin around the car park.
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A lunch held at the Carrollee Hotel attracted representatives from about 40 local sporting clubs and groups.
Mr Dickson explained the State Government’s “Get In The Game” funding program and encouraged the groups to apply quickly when the next round opens.
He said the grants were designed to encourage children to play sport.
“Obesity is a major problem. If we don’t break the cycle they will end up with heart disease, kidney disease … If we don’t get our kids fit and healthy, we are going to be in big trouble.”
Mr Dickson said a priority was to keep young women playing sport after they’ve turned 15, when many drop out.
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There are three different parts to the “Get In The Game” funding:
- Get Started provides eligible children and young people with a voucher of up to $150 to help pay for club membership and/or participation fees; the vouchers can be redeemed at a sport or recreation club registered with the program
- Get Going supports local sport and recreation organisations with funding of up to $10,000 for projects that create opportunities for more Queenslanders to become members
- Get Playing provides up to $100,000 in funding to assist local sport and recreation organisations with facility development
Applications for “Get Going” and “Get Playing” open on July 1 and “Get Started” opens on July 15.
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Another part of Mr Dickson’s portfolio covers National Parks, and he took the opportunity of the South Burnett trip to visit the Bunya Mountains for the first time.
He told the club representatives gathered at the Carrollee Hotel, that sport and National Parks worked in well together, eg mountain bike riding.
Mr Dickson said there were eco-tourism opportunities in Queensland’s National Parks which should be investigated.
Such applications had to meet strict environmental criteria, but if approved applicants could get “30 x 30 x 30” year leases.
This meant the initial lease would be for 30 years. It would be reviewed after 30 and 60 years, and if acceptable, would be automatically renewed.
These sort of leases would give tourism operators the certainty required to gain bank finance, he said.
Mr Dickson told southburnett.com.au there would be “a lot of opportunities” for the Bunya Mountains but there had been no formal applications for eco-tourism ventures so far.
“But we are looking for people to put ideas forward,” he said.
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