Presented at the State Library of Victoria as part of the Australian Drug Foundation’s annual Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Oration, the awards recognise clubs whoshow leadership in reducing risky drinking within their communities. Tyntynder FNC’s President, Paul Morrison, attended the Awards in Melbourne to accept the Runner Up Award while the National Good Sports Club of the Year Award went to South Australia’s Hectorville Sports and Community Club.
The Good Sports program works with clubs to help them provide safe and healthy environments through the responsible management of alcohol. More than 6,000 clubs are involved with the program around Australia.
The Australian Drug Foundation’s Victorian State Good Sports Manager, Rod Glenn-Smith, said the Good SportsAwards recognise the sports clubs around Australia who are providing safe and healthy places for families to enjoy sport.
“As the Good Sports National Runner-Up,Tyntynder Football Netball Club is showingthe wider community that the club places the utmost importance on the health and wellbeing of their players,members and spectators,” Rod said.
This Award comes a week after the club was announced as the ‘Victorian Good Sports Club of the Year’ and AFL Victoria’s ‘Club of Excellence’.
John Strachan, Cultural Strategy Manager at AFL Victoria, said that it was pleasing to see a footy club awarded Good Sports’ best in the state, and Runner Up nationally.
“Tyntynder have set such a great example on responsible alcohol management and play such an important role in leading their community.”
Paul Morrison said that they were thrilled to be recognised with such a prestigous award and congratulated Hectorville Sport and Community Club on taking out the major award. Morrison acknowledged the hardwork of the current and previous Tyntynder FNC Committees who were instrumental in bringing about change, spoke of the support offered by club members and players and noted the ongoing support provided to local clubs by Northern District Community Health Project Officer Greg Currie.
“Tyntynder Football Netball Club acknowledge the role the Good Sports program played in helping us to achieve our goal of becoming a safer, more resilient, family focused and community inclusive sporting club.”
Paul says that years ago, the club had fallen into the same trap as a lot of clubs – they relied too heavily on alcohol for revenue and so a boozy atmosphere was inevitable.
The committee decided to turn to Good Sports to help set them on the right path to becoming more family and community focused with off-field performance considered just as important as on-field. Through the program, in Responsible Service of Alcohol, they’ve turned to a healthier canteen and implemented the “Tyntynder Taxi” to ensure everyone gets home safely.
Previously relying heavily on bar sales to function, the club now enjoys more revenue from memberships and are proud to repart family-friendly social events are our biggest income earners.
VicHealth, major supporters of the Good Sports program in Victoria, have congratulated the club on their achievements.
“Sports clubs are more than just places that promote physical activity – they’re also places where the community gathers and are ideal for promoting health and wellbeing beyond the match itself,” VicHealth CEO JerrilRechter said.“We’d love to see more community clubs follow Tyntynder FNC’s lead to become healthier places.”
Pictured:
1: Award Finalists on Brighton Beach Melbourne.
2: TFNC President Paul Morrison accepting National Runner Up Award fron Dr John Herron at the Victorian State Library
For more information about the Good Sports program visit :
http://goodsports.com.au/around-the-ground/
https://www.facebook.com/GoodSportsClubs
https://twitter.com/AustDrug
Last Modified on 02/02/2014 17:28