A LACK of official members of the Hastings Sporting Fund has called its future into question.
An expression of interest carried out last year resulted in three applications to sit on the fund’s sub-committee, however rules require seven members.
A staff report presented to councillors by Director of Community, Planning and Environment Melissa Watkins, outlined four options for the fund’s future, including dissolving it. The options were:
– Re-advertising for membership through a further Expression of Interest process.
– Transitioning administration of the fund to an external community organisation.
– Transitioning administration of the Fund to Council officers under delegated authority.
– Dissolving the sub-committee and requesting advice from the General Manager on alternative approaches to supporting young sportspeople.
Councillor Nik Lipovac advocated for a new Expression of Interest.
“When your team is losing at half time do you get up and walk out the gate thinking it’s all over, or do you stick around and hold firm, optimistically believing they can come back stronger,” he said.
“I’d suggest to Councillors ‘don’t kick the Sporting Fund while it is down’.”
Cr Lipovac’s motion passed 7-1 with Cr Sheppard the opposing vote.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Sporting Fund was established in 1999 by former Mayor Wayne Richards to provide financial assistance to local athletes aged 13–21 years who have been selected to represent at state, national or international levels.
It is designed to reduce inequity of access.
It oversees the Wayne Richards Sporting Scholarship, which boasts local recipients including paralympian Ryley Batt and recent National and World Cup downhill mountain bike winner Luke Meier-Smith.
The fund has previously engaged in fundraising activities, however vacancies on the governing sub-committee mean regular fundraising has not occurred.
This has resulted in the fund relying on existing reserves as well as a Council allocation of $6,000 per year.
The fund currently stands at $45,000.
By Rachael THORPE
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