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    Jason Muldoon.

Wimmera footy boss: We need you to save clubs

By DEAN LAWSON

A regional football leader has stressed a critical need for community volunteers to quickly resume or take on roles to maintain historic sporting institutions.

AFL regional manager Jason Muldoon fears failure to cover a drop-off in volunteer commitment to clubs and sport in general will have devastating long-term socio-economic implications for the Wimmera and Mallee.

Mr Muldoon said an observation in his role of liaising closely with football-netball clubs across the region was that a diminished volunteer base was one of the greatest concerns.



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“We have entered into a new year and people must put their hands up or come forward now for mainstream winter community sport to regain any traction,” he said.

Mr Muldoon said implications were far-reaching if people who had drifted away from their clubs or teams failed to resume their enthusiasm or if others failed to come forward. 

He said it was a long-held belief that football and netball clubs, in most cases, provided a social ‘glue’ critical for regional and rural community solidarity and connectivity.

“If there was ever a time to consider doing anything to support footy or netball or sport in general –  and this is something many of us often think about – now is the time to do it,” he said.

“If you have been thinking about having a crack, and it can be as a participant or administrator, put your hand up.”

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Mr Muldoon said it was unknown how well football and netball clubs, such an integral part of Wimmera-
Mallee culture, would emerge after the pandemic forced authorities to abandon community team sports last year.

“It doesn’t just apply to football and netball, but all sport and community activities,” he said. 

“Volunteering is critical to our way of life and we can never consider going back to what we have expected in the past if people decide to stay away and sit on their hands.

“Generations of people have worked for decades to establish and foster sporting clubs and it is critical we recognise that without that person putting their hand up to manage the canteen, look after the books, organise training and so on – for kids and adults alike – everything stops happening.
In our part of the world, when football, netball and other sports fall away it is like putting a dagger in the heart of communities and we cannot afford to let that happen.

“There is a danger of people forgetting what’s required, of getting out of essential habits. 

“This work might have to some in the past seemed like a chore and the virus might have provided an easy way out. 

“But in reality this type of activity is very healthy and helps make country lifestyle what it is.”

“We need people to be prepared to jump back in and get involved and that thought process must be happening now as we dare to consider what sport will look like beyond the next couple of months,” Mr Muldoon said.

He made the comments while confirming that newly formed Wimmera Football Netball League, the result of a merger between Wimmera Football League and Wimmera Netball Association, had extended a timeline to fill seats on a management board.

“We need at least three more people to have the minimum, but the more the merrier. People don’t necessarily need to be established in either sport,” he said.

Mr Muldoon added that circumstances provided clear and galvanising insight into the value of community volunteers.

“Volunteers must be celebrated. It is one thing to call for volunteers, but it is just as important to acknowledge their efforts and commitment,” he said.

“Sporting clubs give us something to barrack for and it will be volunteers who will collectively make a difference on how well we as a sport-loving region emerge from the pandemic.”

The entire January 20, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!