LIFE-SAVING DEFRILLATOR GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Sporting and recreational organisations across the Clarence and Richmond valleys are being encouraged by Clarence Nationals MP, Richie Williamson to apply for funding under the latest round of the NSW Government’s 2024/25 Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.

Mr Williamson said the program offers grants of up to $3,000 to help local sporting clubs and recreation facilities access life-saving defibrillators.

“Sport is part of the fabric of life in our local communities, and with more and more people of all ages participating in sport and recreation, having access to a defibrillator could mean the difference between life and death,” Mr Williamson said.

“I encourage all eligible sporting organisations in the Clarence and Richmond valleys to apply for funding to ensure they have the equipment needed to respond to medical emergencies.”

In response to feedback from communities, the 2024/25 program will continue to prioritise clubs located in disadvantaged areas of NSW. However, clubs experiencing financial hardship but outside eligible postcodes are also encouraged to apply.

Mr Williamson said this year, the program will consider applications from clubs experiencing financial difficulties, recognising that postcode borders don’t always reflect a club’s financial situation.

“This is a great opportunity for all clubs to secure support and I urge them to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance the safety and well-being of their participants,” Mr Williamson added.

2024 Australian Longboard Titles officially begin on the Tweed Coast

The Australian Longboard Titles have officially begun with an Opening Ceremony at the Hyundai Surfing Australia High Performance Centre (HPC), marking the start of a six-day event on the Tweed Coast in northern New South Wales. Held on Bundjalung Country, the competition is part of the 2024 Australian Surf Championships and is the longest-running event on the Australian surfing calendar.

Athletes from all six surfing states are competing in various longboard divisions at some of the region’s most famous surf spots, including Cabarita Beach, Kingscliff Beach, Fingal Beach, and Duranbah Beach. With nearly 120 competitors in the Masters divisions, this year’s event is one of the largest in recent memory.

Surfing Australia Contest Director Glen Elliott is optimistic about the weather, predicting a strong swell that will provide excellent surf conditions, especially for the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions. “The forecast looks great,” he said, “with a solid 3-5 foot swell expected for the first few days of competition.”

The Australian Longboard Titles feature athletes representing all six surfing states. Image: Lighthouse Sports Photography / Surfing Australia

Competitor Nathan Rivalland, from Jan Juc, Victoria, expressed his excitement to be part of the event. “This is my third time competing, and it’s epic to be up here. I made the semis last year and I’m hoping to go even better this year.”

Winners of the Open Men’s and Women’s divisions will secure spots on the Australian surfing team, the Irukandjis, for the 2025 ISA World Longboard Championship. All division winners will also receive a longboard-specific coaching session at the Hyundai Surfing Australia HPC.

Key Divisions:

• Under 18 Junior Men & Women
• Open Men & Women
• Masters & Grand Masters (40+ and beyond)

Competition Schedule:

• Window 1: Friday, Sept 13 – Saturday, Sept 14 (Open Men & Women, U18 Junior Men & Women)
• Window 2: Saturday, Sept 14 – Tuesday, Sept 17 (Masters, Grand Masters, and older divisions)

For more information, visit here. This year’s event is supported by Hyundai, Jim Beam, and Surfers for Climate.

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Lismore Basketball Stadium Reopens Thanks to State and Federal Grants

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has celebrated the return of the Lismore Basketball Stadium, with players back on the court after extensive post-flood refurbishments. Following the devastating floods in 2022, the stadium has been rebuilt with over $580,000 from the Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund, part of the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP) funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Saffin praised the efforts of the Lismore Basketball Association, which kept games going on a damaged floor until moving to the Goonellabah Sport and Recreation Centre for repairs. She acknowledged the work of Association President Aaron Simpson, Treasurer Kay Simpson, and Publicity Officer Cheryl Amor, who, alongside the Council and local tradespeople, helped bring the facility back to life.

The project was supported through:

• $1 million for the floor replacement from the NSW Government and Commonwealth Natural Disaster Relief Assistance Program.
• Over $580,000 from the NSW Office of Sport for sub-floor works and a further $50,000 from Local Government Recovery Grants.

Cheryl Amor expressed gratitude to Council, Bennetts, and Janelle Saffin for their steadfast support. She said the use of local tradespeople had been a priority, and the rebuilt stadium is a significant milestone for the association as it looks to attract new players and rebuild its community.

The NSW Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper, highlighted the importance of repairing local sporting infrastructure to keep communities healthy and connected, especially after natural disasters. Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister echoed these sentiments, congratulating all parties involved in the successful project.

The rebuild involved:

• Demolition, asbestos removal, and subgrade earthworks.
• Installation of screw piles, the Waffle pod system, steel cages, and slab reinforcement.
• Laying, sanding, and sealing of a hardwood timber floor from Kyogle.
• Installation of a new grandstand and score bench, as well as repairs to the external driveway and footpath.

For those interested in taking up basketball, contact the Lismore Basketball Association at 0410 777 572 or via their Facebook page or Instagram.

The repair work was funded by Federal and State governments’ Natural Disaster Relief Assistance Program ($1 million), Local Government Recovery Grants ($50,000), and the State Government’s Office of Sport Grants ($236,853 and $344,510).

For more local Lismore news, click here.