ASF Newsletter - March 2007
From the General Manager
Sport is a significant industry in Australia. When you consider the number of clubs, associations, community groups and schools involved, as well as those providing and maintaining venues, producing equipment and opportunities for involvement in sport, the logistics are immense. Add to this the financial supporters of sport through provision of employment, membership contributions, donations, in-kind support, sponsorship and grants, and the real value of sport to the Australian economy starts to reveal itself.
The hidden contribution is that of the volunteers. From those who serve on committees to those who simply turn up and do things without being asked. From coaches, officials and administrators to the thousands who come forward to help when events of national significance are held. And we have not even mentioned the athletes yet, many of whom also fit into a number of the support and volunteer categories mentioned above. Then there are supporters and spectators. The list goes on.
How do you measure the contribution of volunteers? For those who are interested, there are resources and projects that have attempted to measure this.
‘Giving Australia’, a project of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership, released a report in November 2005 entitled Research on Philanthropy in Australia. The report provided some insights into the extent of giving (including volunteering) in a range of sectors, including sport.From my point of view, it is the people that make sport the icon it is in Australia.
Culturally, we are a nation that ‘lends a hand’ and ‘gives a damn’ and it is these qualities, together with the will to win, that continue to endure in challenging times.
Interestingly, as funds for sport become more difficult to access and life becomes more time-precious, the use of informal networks and connectivity in sport has emerged as a real asset for sustaining operations and looking at options. At the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), we see clubs joining together to construct common facilities for training and playing; we see clubs, schools and communities sharing resources and building facilities; and we see local government in regional areas working on establishing sporting hubs in their communities to centralise resources. In the same vein, coaches and administrators from rival teams within a sport meeting regularly to share ideas and trends for the betterment of the game, and there are informal referrals from those with information to those who may be seeking it. People regularly move around within the sport industry and are often involved in more than one organisation at a time.
Again, the key is the passion, vision and involvement of people in sport. From the ASF’s point of view, we are encouraged by organisations that seek information as a result of referral by people who have been or are involved with the ASF. In the interests of developing our sporting future, let us continue with the positive practice of sharing information so more people can benefit from the resources and support services that exist.
Does the ASF have up-to-date details for your organisation?
One of the most important aspects of project management is effective communication. Increasing use is being made of emails and soft copy for real-time transfer of data, so there is an increasing reliance on current information, including project contacts and organisational details.
If your organisation has recently undergone changes at committee or board level, including whoever may be dealing with the ASF, it would be helpful if the ASF was advised. Similarly, if organisational details such as the ABN, incorporated name, constitution or bank account information has changed, please notify us.
For your convenience, the email enquiry form located in the ‘Contact us’ section on the ASF web site can be used. The ASF is keen to ensure that the right people receive the right information at the right time to support their project objectives.
Case study - North Esk Rowing Club
The project
To construct new clubrooms for North Esk Rowing Club, at a cost of almost $900 000.
The need
North Esk Rowing Club’s need for new clubrooms had become increasingly apparent over the last five years, primarily due to the deteriorating building, but also because of the need to cater for an increase in memberships.
The old clubrooms had reached a stage where they required continual and costly maintenance, until it became clear that ‘maintenance’ would no longer suffice — the concrete floor was deeply cracked, the bathroom facilities were barely operable and the iron cladding needed replacing. Neither could the boatshed cater for the number of rowing members the club had. Limited space for training equipment and to store boats meant limiting the number of members the club could accept.
The goal
After a weekend workshop to produce a strategic plan, the club set its primary goal as constructing new clubrooms in a two-stage process. The first stage was to complete the building to ‘lockup’, allowing the club to operate with larger storage for boats and room for training equipment, as well as vastly improved changeroom facilities for men, women and rowers with disabilities.
The second stage entailed fitting out the function area on the second floor above the boat storage. The club’s aim was to use this function room to fundraise so that member fees could be kept low and equipment maintained in first-class condition. This stage of the redevelopment was not part of the club’s ASF project.
The approach
Following the development of the strategic plan, the club started fundraising and the club’s president, Kerry Dawkins, began approaching state and federal politicians for additional financial support. An architect was appointed to produce plans and the club’s committee began addressing some of the necessary paperwork to ensure the club was able to begin as soon as the required funds had been obtained.
The challenge
The club president was successful in securing funds from both federal and state governments as well as the local council, at which point a builder was appointed and construction began. The club, however, needed to contribute $200 000 in addition to the work and materials donated by club members and ex-members.
The successful strategies
For a number of years club members had been required to take part in regular activities that raised a large amount of funds for the club. One of these initiatives included staffing the gates of the AFL matches in Launceston. Six games each year guaranteed that $30 000 per annum was generated for the club. However, additional fundraising strategies were undertaken given the significant contribution required.
Local businesses were offered sponsorship and advertising benefits at the new clubrooms, however the other strategy that proved worthwhile was to register the project with the ASF. Once registered, the club committee contacted as many past members as they were able to track down, via a mail out and phone calls. Members and ex-members were invited to the clubroom opening and in recognition of contributions of $500 or more, donors had their names inscribed on the club’s oldest and most historic scull to be hung upstairs on display.
The North Esk Rowing Club committee considers the ASF donation process a valuable fundraising option and plans to continue collecting tax-deductible donations from supporters to assist in repaying the facility loan that was taken out to meet the shortfall of funds. According to the North Esk Rowing Club, ASF staff were exceptionally supportive during the registration process and continue to offer assistance.
Location
North Esk Rowing Club is located in Launceston, which is Tasmania’s second largest city approximately two and a half hours drive north of Hobart
Case study - Labrador Sports Club
The project
To install a synthetic hockey field
The need
Quality hockey is only played on synthetic fields, and Labrador Hockey’s development plan has, for some time, included the installation of such a field. With a very large junior membership, the club needed to provide a quality playing surface for juniors to develop their skills properly and also to allow the senior teams to train for 90 minutes at the same time and evening each week.
The goal
To install a wet-dressed synthetic hockey field to replace the club’s Number 1 grass field.
The approach
The approach was to gradually construct the peripheral infrastructure, fencing, lighting, drainage, etc., first via club revenue and minor grants, and then to gain the financial and in-kind support of members willing to assist in making the field surface installation become a reality.
The challenges
The challenges included overcoming political constraints, then raising enough funds to complete the field surface installation without burdening club members with a large loan, and also to complete a $500 000 project within a volunteer club environment.
The successful strategies
Successful strategies used by Labrador Sports Club included:
• distributing relevant information to all members outlining the project and offering the opportunity to become involved if they were in a position to do so
• targeting members who had the skills needed to assist with in-kind support
• registering the project with the ASF to provide more incentive for members to provide financial donations
• working with local councillors to gain their support for the project. The two councillors administering the major player residential areas donated $50 000 each
• astutely working with contractors to obtain quality workmanship at the best possible price.
The remainder of the funds needed to complete the project were raised via member donations and a small council interest-free loan.
To the best of club knowledge, Labrador Hockey is the first non-metropolitan club in Australia to achieve the milestone of the installation of a wet-dressed artificial hockey field.
Location
Labrador is located on Queensland’s Gold Coast approximately one hour’s drive south of Brisbane.
ASF grant recipients July 2006 - January 2007
This is a list of sporting organisations, shires and councils, community groups and schools who shared in the $8.51 million that the ASF issued in discretionary grants in the period July 2006 to January 2007. If your organisation is not mentioned here, ask the ASF about how to register your sports project, or visit the ASF web site for more information. We may have some innovative ideas in the form of proven strategies to complement your fundraising for those vital sports projects.
- Athletics
Box Hill Athletic Club, VIC
Glenhuntly Athletic Club, VIC - Australian football
AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission, NSW
Australian Football League, VIC
Brisbane Lions Football Club, QLD
Carlton Football Club, VIC
Collingwood Football Club, VIC
Geelong Football Club, VIC
Glenelg Football Club, SA
Hawthorn Football Club, VIC
PAFC Foundation, SA
Perth Football Club, WA
Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club, SA
Power House Amateur Football Club, VIC
Richmond Football Club, VIC
South Barwon Football and Netball Club, VIC
St Joseph’s Football Club Geelong, VIC
Sydney Australian Football Foundation, NSW
Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation, VIC - Baseball
Sandringham Baseball Club, VIC - Basketball
Gateway Family Church, VIC
Midnight Basketball Australia, NSW
Portland Basketball Association, VIC - Boccia
Boccia Victoria - Boxing
Boxing New South Wales - Canoeing
Australian Canoeing, NSW - Community groups
Advance Camperdown, VIC
Coomera Watersports Club, QLD
Geelong Cats Sports Foundation, VIC
Good Life Community Baptist Church, QLD
Kew Heights Sports Club, VIC
Layne Beachley — Aim for the Stars Foundation, NSW
Rotary Club of Brighton, VIC - Cricket
Geelong Cricket Club, VIC
Glenelg District Cricket Club, SA
Gordon District Cricket Club, NSW
Greenvale Cricket Club, VIC
NSW Cricket Association
Upper North Junior Cricket Council, SA - Croquet
Mosman Croquet Club, NSW - Cycling
Henk Vogels Cycling Foundation, WA
On Track for Life Foundation, VIC
The Inside Line, SA - Flight
Victorian Motorless Flight Group - Football
Johnny Warren Football Foundation of New South Wales
Sandringham City Junior Soccer Club, VIC - Golf
Commonwealth Golf Club, VIC
Frankston Golf Club, VIC
Glenelg Golf Club, SA
Huntingdale Golf Club Foundation, VIC
Leongatha Golf Club, VIC
Royal Melbourne Golf Club, VIC
Spring Valley Golf Club, VIC
Stuart Appleby Junior Golf (Victoria)
The Grange Golf Club, SA
The Kooyonga Foundation, SA
The Royal Adelaide Golf Club, SA
The Yarra Yarra Golf Club, VIC
Victorian Golf Foundation
Woodlands Golf Club, VIC - Hockey
Altona Hockey Club, VIC
Arncliffe Scots–St George District Hockey Club, NSW
Hockey Queensland
Hockey Tasmania
Melville City Hockey Club, WA
Port Adelaide District Hockey Club, SA
Shentons Club, WA - Lacrosse
Victorian Lacrosse Association - Lawn bowls
Warringah Bowling Club, NSW - Local government
City of Port Lincoln, SA
Horsham Rural City Council, VIC
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, VIC
Maribrynong City Council, VIC
Shire of Merredin, WA
South Gippsland Shire Council, VIC
Southern Grampians Shire Council, VIC
Town of Narrogin, WA
Wellington Shire Council, NSW - Motor sport
Australian Motor Sport Foundation, VIC - National bodies
Australian Olympic Committee, NSW
Maccabi Australia, NSW
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame, VIC - Orienteering
Orienteering Australia, ACT - Parachuting
Australian Parachute Federation, ACT - Rowing
Adelaide University Boat Club, SA
Banks Rowing Club, VIC
Buckingham Rowing Club (Tas)
Canberra Rowing Club, ACT
Glebe Rowing Club, NSW
Hawthorn Rowing Club, VIC
Melbourne Argonauts Queer Rowing Club, VIC
Mercantile Rowing Club, VIC
Mosman Rowing Club, NSW
Newcastle Rowing Club, NSW
North Shore Rowing Club, NSW
Port Adelaide Rowing Club, SA
Power House Rowing Club, VIC
Richmond Rowing Club, VIC
Swan River Rowing Club, WA
Sydney Women’s MLC Rowing Club, NSW
Torrens Rowing Club, SA - Rowing — Schools
Brisbane Boys’ College, QLD
Canberra Girls Grammar School Rowing Club, ACT
Canberra Grammar School, ACT
Christian Brothers College, SA
Loreto Kirribilli Association, NSW
Loreto Mandeville Hall Association, VIC
Newington College, NSW
North Sydney Girls High School Parents and Citizens Association, NSW
Pembroke School, SA
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, VIC
Prince Alfred College Foundation, SA
Queenwood Parents Association, NSW
Scotch College, WA
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School Parents and Friends Association, QLD
St Catherine’s School, VIC
St Ignatius’ College Riverview, NSW
St Joseph’s College, NSW
St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, QLD
Stuartholme School, QLD
Tara Anglican School for Girls, NSW
The Rockhampton Grammar School, QLD
UCA–Kinross Wolaroi School, NSW
Unley High School, SA
Wesley College Melbourne, VIC
WH Pincott Club, VIC
Xavier College Foundation, VIC - Rugby league
Albion Park Oak Flats Rugby League Football Club, NSW - Rugby union
Eastwood District Rugby Union Football Club, NSW
Harlequin Club, VIC
Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, NSW
Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club, VIC
Old Ignations’ Sports Association, NSW
Parramatta District Rugby Union Football Club, NSW
Queensland Rugby Union
Sydney University Football Club Foundation, NSW
The Gold Coast International Rugby Academy, QLD
Universities Rugby Football Club, ACT
Victorian Rugby Union
Warringah Rugby Foundation, NSW
Woollahra Colleagues Rugby Union Football Club, NSW - Sailing
Black Rock Yacht Club, VIC
Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, VIC
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, NSW
Davey’s Bay Yacht Club, VIC
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, WA
Metung Yacht Club, VIC
Port Melbourne Yacht Club, VIC
Royal Brighton Yacht Club, VIC
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, VIC
Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, NSW
Royal Yacht Club of Victoria
Somers Yacht Club, VIC
Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club, VIC
South of Perth Yacht Club, WA
Squadron Yacht Racing Foundation, NSW
SYC Foundation, VIC
The Australian Open Skiff Trust, NSW
Yachting Australia, NSW - Schools — General projects
Canberra Grammar School, ACT
North Sydney Girls High School Parents and Citizens Association, NSW
Scotch College Foundation, SA
St Joseph’s Nudgee College, QLD
St Joseph’s Nudgee Junior College, QLD
Sydney Boys High School, NSW
Wesley College Melbourne, VIC
Westfields Sports High School, NSW - Shooting
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Vic) - State bodies
Australian Commonwealth Games Association, WA
Maccabi NSW
Maccabi Victoria - Surf lifesaving
Apollo Bay Surf Life Saving Club, VIC - Swimming
Swimming Australia Foundation, ACT - Table tennis
Bellarine Table Tennis Club, VIC - Tennis
Kooyong Foundation, VIC
Old Bar Tennis Club, NSW
Tennis Australia, VIC - Touch football
Touch Football Australia, ACT - Water polo
Melville Water Polo Club, WA - Winter sports
Australian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, VIC
NSW Ski Association
Ski and Snowboard Australia, VIC
Schedule of grant rounds 2007
| March 2007 | Includes funds accepted by 28 February 2007 |
| May 2007 | Includes funds accepted by 30 April 2007 |
| July 2007 | Includes funds accepted by 30 June 2007 |
| September 2007 | Includes funds accepted by 31 August 2007 |
| November 2007 | Includes funds accepted by 31 October 2007 |
Funds accepted are donations deposited into the ASF bank account and cleared, or credit card donations processed through the ASF terminal by the date specified.
A tip on how to solve outstanding mysteries!
When posting information to the ASF, including donation forms and bank deposit slips, it is suggested that you contact the ASF if receipts have not been received within ten working days. Very rarely, it is possible that the postal system may not be foolproof and documents may travel to the ASF via Bermuda, Kazakhstan and Namibia.
The end result is that the ASF will see money deposited into its bank account and not be able to identify the project or donor without the rest of the documentation. This means that a receipt cannot be issued and the funds cannot be made available for granting. Surprisingly, there are several instances of this, dating back over 12 months.
If you think that you have collected donations, deposited them into the bank account of the ASF but have not received receipts after a reasonable time, contact us by telephone on (02) 6214 7868, fax on (02) 6214 7865. Faxed copies of information previously sent can solve the mystery and result in receipts for the donors, and the potential to release further grant funds.
Around the regions
The ASF is pleased to support developmental work being undertaken by sporting and community organisations in regional Australia by being a complementary part of their strategic funding plans. Here is a snapshot of progress on some projects registered with the ASF that are providing sporting equipment for clubs and communities in their regions.
NQ Sailing
The ASF, in the essence of a true partnership, assisted a major program for the re-introduction of recreational and sporting sailing in North Queensland.
Other partners included the combined sailing clubs from Townsville to Port Douglas and at Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tablelands, together with the federal government and a number of sponsors.
The program resulted in fleets of boats now being located in Cairns, Magnetic Island, Lake Tinaroo, Yorkeys Knob and Mission Beach.
The crowning glory of the program was the acquisition of four J24 keelboats, with two more to be acquired to complete the fleet of six. These boats were acquired second hand and have been re-fitted as a labour of love led by local sailing icon Darryl Hartshorne and his wife Phyllis. Many volunteer hours have been put into this project by a large number of individuals supported by some sponsorship and corporate support and, of course, grants from the ASF.
The fleet of boats is actively used in interclub competition, weekday sailing and, most importantly, a series of six-week introductory learn-to-sail programs. Already over 100 people have participated in sailing the Js and 45 have successfully completed courses to competent crew level and have now joined the ‘sailing community’.
This program is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved with effort, commitment and groups working together with a common goal. NQ Sailing greatly appreciated the assistance the ASF provided with the fundraising.
Royal Melbourne Tennis Club
The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club has recognised the need for a more coordinated, comprehensive junior development program. Initiated and trialled in the second half of 2006, the program runs for four hours, over two Sunday morning sessions per month. Real Tennis racquets are too heavy for some of the younger participants, so Royal Melbourne Tennis Club monies raised as a result of ASF fundraising have been invested in a set of lighter custom-made junior racquets that have proven invaluable for the beginners.
The 2007 program is structured so that the Sunday sessions build towards the main junior tournaments that occur during the season. The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club currently has 33 juniors enthusiastically taking part in this program.
Over many years ASF grants have been used to purchase much-needed Real Tennis equipment, with the ASF continuing to play an important role in Royal Melbourne Tennis Club’s fundraising for its Real Tennis projects.
Swan River Rowing Club
The Swan River Rowing Club is the largest and most successful rowing club in Western Australia with over 200 members, including 12 Australian representatives at the 2006 World Rowing Championships, more than all other Western Australian clubs combined.
Rowing equipment is expensive. A rowing eight will cost in excess of $35 000, a single scull around $11 000. The club has in excess of 30 boats to cater for a wide range of athletes, from novice school students and veteran rowers to international representatives.
Through generous donations by members to the ASF in support of its equipment fund, the club is able to continue providing equipment of a standard expected by the wide range of club members.
The club is striving to raise $30 000 per year through such donations. In its first nine months it has raised nearly $26 000.
The Inside Line
The Inside Line is a downhill mountain-biking club located in the Adelaide Hills. The club’s equipment fund was set up primarily to raise funds for the purchase of timing boards to display competitors’ times and ranks.
The timing boards will help complete the current timing system by displaying results to riders and spectators. This will mean that the club will own a timing system that can be used for hosting national and international events, as well as improving the running and quality of those events for its participants.
So far The Inside Line is working towards attaining this goal through donations to the ASF in support of its project, as well as receiving other grants that see the club very close to realising its goal.
Once the timing boards are installed, The Inside Line has a long ‘wish list’ of items to follow, including bike trailers, and a PA system.
Frequently asked questions
Our football and netball club is planning to upgrade the watering system on the oval and put up new lights for training around the netball court. What information do we need to give the ASF to register a project?
The first thing to do is get an information pack from the ASF that includes an application form and the ASF guidelines. These can be obtained by lodging an enquiry on the ASF web site or by calling (02) 6214 7868. When filling out the application form, be mindful of the check list of supporting documentation that will help the ASF assess your potential project. Information relating to your organisation such as your incorporation certificate, constitution and audited financial statements all assist, as will endorsement from the local government body or landowner and from the state sporting body with which you are affiliated.
Depending on the number of new projects to process, it may take a few weeks from receipt of all information by the ASF to get to the point of registering a project. It is suggested that you take this into account in your planning.
If your club is also seeking a grant from your relevant state government or other applicable grant programs, include a reference to that in your application. Most projects that register with the ASF have a strategic mix of funding, and the ASF is pleased to be a complementary part of the overall funding plan.
Our annual general meeting took place a couple of months ago and the club now has a new committee. In my new job as treasurer I have found a file with papers in it that seem to relate to the ASF, but I have no idea what it is or what help it can be to our club?
By its nature, sport is an ever-changing environment. The best thing to do would be to ring the ASF to find out more details about the information you have found and what the ASF can do to assist your organisation. Once you have made contact, and if your club has a project registered with the ASF, you will be asked to nominate a contact person within the club so that all future information is sent to the right person. If you do not have an existing project, you will have information to take to your committee to see if ASF project opportunities exist.
The ASF web site is also a good starting point for information. As part of the ASF client service regular contact is made with projects, so if for some reason your organisation has disappeared off the ASF radar, the club will be contacted to make sure that everything is going to plan. It is helpful if organisations can notify the ASF of changes to club contact details (for example, people, email addresses, phones, faxes and postal addresses, etc.).
More help for your club
As an aside, the Australian Sports Commission has a web site for helping clubs. Information on the Club Development Network web site (www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/clubs) could be of assistance to existing and new clubs alike, as well as new committees.
Late news
The ASF has been invited to participate in the Clubs Conference organised by the SA Office for Recreation and Sport in May 2007. Interested clubs are invited to make themselves known to the ASF to discuss potential project opportunities.
New project approvals -
1 July 2006 to 31 December 2006
The ASF welcomes the following new projects that have been approved in the period 1 July 2006 to 31 December 2006.
• AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission, NSW — Sport development
• Australian Olympic Committee (Queensland Olympic Council) — Sport development
• Barron Valley Gymnastics Club, QLD — Sport development
• Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, VIC — Equipment
• Brisbane State High School, QLD — Equipment
• Ceres Calisthenics Club, VIC — Facility development
• Forest District Rugby Club, NSW — Facility development
• Gateway Family Church, VIC — Major event
• Geelong Lawn Tennis Club, VIC — Facility development
• Glenelg District Cricket Club, SA — Facility development
• Gordon District Cricket Club, NSW — Facility development
• Kimba Districts Football and Netball Club, SA — Facility development
• Lighthouse Sports and Recreation Ministry, NSW — Major event
• Loreto Normanhurst Association, NSW — Equipment
• Melville Water Polo Club, WA — Sport development and major event
• MLC School, NSW — Equipment and sport development
• NSW Cricket Association — Sport development
• OSFC Foundation, VIC — Facility development
• Professional Golfers’ Association of Australia, VIC — Sport development
• Queensland Gaelic Football Association — Team travel
• Sorrento Golf Club, VIC — Facility development
• Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club, VIC — Sport development
• South Brisbane District Cricket Club, QLD — Facility development
• Sporting Car Club of SA — Equipment and facility development
• Stuartholme School, QLD — Equipment
• Sunnybank Senior Rugby Club, QLD — Sport development
• Sydney Rowing Club, NSW — Equipment and sport development
• Tennis SA — Facility development
• The Australian Open Skiff Trust, NSW — Sport development
• The Hutchins School, TAS — Equipment
• The King David School Holdings, VIC — Facility development
• Toowong Rowing Club, QLD — Equipment
• Warringah Rugby Foundation, NSW — Sport development
• Western Australia Maccabi — Facility development
• Womensport Queensland Association — Sport development
Next edition
The next edition of Australian Sports Foundation News will be in September 2007. In conjunction with the national conference for the Association of School Bursars and Administrators to be held in Adelaide in October 2007, the next edition will feature the involvement of schools with the ASF.
If there are any matters involving the ASF that your school would like addressed in the next edition, please contact the ASF.
- ASF Newsletter - March 2007 (
PDF - 2.1 mb)
