Rural sporting organisations are encouraged to enter Dow AgroSciences’ Growing Community Sports Clubs competition for a chance to win a share of $80,000 worth of grants towards their clubs.
Dow AgroSciences Marketing Manager George Saville recognises the importance of sports in rural communities.
“Sport is at the core of vibrant rural communities, and sporting clubs play a big role in the wellbeing of Australians, “he says.
“We’re looking to reach out to those often overlooked smaller clubs that make up the heart of rural communities across Australia and give them that bit of extra support.”
A 2011 surveyof broadacre farmers showed that although they do four times more vigorous activity per week than the average Australian in their normal work day, only 16 per cent of farmers aged 40-45 participated in team sport.
This number significantly rose to 35 per cent for younger farmers aged 18 – 39.
“We all understand that good health and wellbeing starts locally with participation in activities such as club sport,” Saville says.
“We’re excited to support sport at this level and hope to get more people involved and active.”
The competition is open to all rural sporting clubs and submissions can be lodged by the club itself, or by an individual with the club’s best interest in mind.
Entries can be made by visiting Dow AgroSciences’ website and completing a submission in 200 words or less on why a $4000 grant would make a real difference to a local sports club.
The competition runs from July 1 – September 30 and 20 individual grants will be awarded nationally.
Submissions will be judged by a panel from the team at Dow AgroSciences, who will use set criteria to pick the best entries.
Winners will be presented with their cheques at a series of community BBQ events.