Cobras score a neat win, off the field

By Peter Sweeney
CORA Lynn Football and Netball Club has kicked a goal … off the field and court.
Sadly, the financial handpass it received has come because of the recent floods.
Cora Lynn is one of 26 clubs in Worksafe Victorian Country Football Leagues to share in $291,600 through the AFL Flood Relief Program.
But the club will get the smallest amount.
“It (Cora Lynn) was probably the lowest hit (in regards to damage) of all the clubs and is on the lowest end of financial support,” Shayne Ward of the VCFL said.
“Three of the clubs have million-dollar-plus damage bills and some cannot play on their grounds this year.
“Cora Lynn’s grant was for crop damage and, from memory, it was to buy seed. Although it was at the lower end of the scale, Cora Lynn did have a well-justified application.”
The funding to the clubs has received widespread in-kind support from unaffected clubs.
The AFL Flood Relief Program funds will go directly to clubs to replace damaged items and equipment and for support measures to ensure participation is maintained in the wake of the summer flooding and into the 2011 season.
Glenn Scott, chief executive of WorkSafe VCFL, stressed the importance for local communities to have a vibrant and healthy football-netball club.
“The hardships we have seen in country communities from these floods have been severe,” Scott said.
“In many cases, clubs have required immediate support to maintain their participation levels and to assist with basic things, like alternative ground hire, transportation, football equipment and to cover for loss of income.
“I know people couldn’t wait for the football season to begin, so they could get a sense of ‘normality’ into their lives after a very difficult, and very long summer thrown up by Mother Nature.”
Central Highlands Football League club Clunes, whose ground is unplayable, will use its funding to provide fuel vouchers to juniors payers to travel to matches.
Marong, one of four clubs in the Loddon Valley League to receive money, will use its funds to repair a heavily damaged oval, while Cardross in the Millewa League will buy temporary marquees and equipment to facilitate its playing schedule at alternative grounds.
The major contributors to the flood relief program were the AFL through various NAB Cup activities, WorkSafe VCFL, AFL Victoria and the Collingwood FC Foundation (which gave $50,000), the Geelong and District Football League, the Mornington Peninsula Football League and the Altona Sports Club.
Besides Cora Lynn, Clunes, Marong and Cardross, other clubs to receive financial assistance were Castlemaine, Creswick, Kerang, Woorinen, Macorna, Murrabit, Quambatook, Wandella, Rochester, North Bendigo, Bridgewater, Inglewood, Newbridge, Avoca, Carisbrook, Cardross, Charlton, Donald, Wedderburn, Robinvale, Panmure, Dimboola and the Horsham Saints.