Weekend footy institution restored following flooding event

AFL Townsville, comprising of Curra Swans and Hermit Park Tigers AFL clubs, and their team of volunteers set to work after the devastating flooding to make sure junior and senior players, plus their families and supporters, were able to get back on the fields as soon as possible. 

The organisation accessed a Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administered Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant for not-for-profits to replace more than 300 meters of security fencing around the grounds. 

AFL Townsville president Michael Jones said the fence was vital on completion days and to keep the complex secure. 

“The reason the fence is important is it provides security for the club rooms but it also allows, on game day, to make sure people are paying to get in,” Mr Jones said.  

“Both clubs are non-commercial and are run by volunteers so gate takings on a Saturday are really important for the clubs ability to survive.” 

Mr Jones said the clubs acted quickly after the flood to make sure local families could get back to their weekend routines. 

“The difficult thing post an event like this is you lose your routine of what you have traditionally always done and there is a disruption to your life so being able to get the facility up and running again was good but in such a quick amount of time is even better,” he said. 

“Footy on a Saturday is an institution, where families can get together, support their kids in the morning and some parents also play for the same club as their kids. 

“Both clubs also have a women’s side that operate from this facility as well. 

“We also host carnivals from the same facility which involves hundreds of kids from all over the region. 

“We tried to get the facility up and running as soon as we could so people were able to get back to what they class as a normal part of their life, it was really important.

“If there is an opportunity to get support, other not-for-profits should be putting an application in because being able to get the grant, particularly when you are not-for-profit or a volunteer sporting club, is beneficial because every dollar counts.” 

The work on the fence was completed in May and the fields were accessible again within three months of the flooding event.  

“I think the fact everything was done within three months was a credit to everyone involved,” Mr Jones said. 

“It’s great the local contractors were able to pick up the work and the two clubs that operate out of this facility were able to get back to normal at their home grounds.” 

To find out what disaster assistance is currently available visit our Disaster Recovery for non-profit organisations page. 

QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the joint Commonwealth / Queensland Government funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018.