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    Tom, 4, and Sam Margetson, 6, enjoy the spring weather at North Park in Stawell.
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    Pippa Margetson, 2, enjoys the spring weather at North Park in Stawell.
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    Sam, 6, and Tom Margetson, 4, enjoy the spring weather at North Park in Stawell.

High expectations for further sport clarification

By Dean Lawson

Wimmera sporting leaders expect further clarification on a roadmap to a resumption of community sport, including indoor competition, by the end of the week.

Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly executive officer David Berry said he looked forward to what he anticipated would be a further easing of restrictions.

“We will know more in next few days and it is very encouraging,” he said.



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In entering the third step of the State Government’s Roadmap to Recovery, regional Victorians will again be able to pursue some outdoor sport from tomorrow.

Rules permit contact and non-contact outdoor sport for people aged 18 and younger and outdoor non-contact sport only for adults within gathering and density limits.

Basic directions appear to open the door for traditional non-contact summer sports including tennis, cricket and lawn bowls, but Mr Berry said it was important to wait for confirmation on specific rules.

“It’s only my opinion but we might have an opportunity to start seasons for tennis, cricket, lawn bowls and croquet seasons around the end of October,” he said.

Mr Berry said a major question continued to surround a time frame for a resumption of indoor community sport.

“We’re hopeful that from mid to late October there will also be a green light for indoor sport generally, such as volleyball, basketball and squash. But it’s a case of wait and see,” he said.

David Berry.

David Berry

Mr Berry said the assembly and broader Regional Sport Victoria network had concerns before yesterday’s announcement about the recovery roadmap and had written letters to parliamentarians with regional recommendations.

He said combined Melbourne and regional Victoria ‘triggers’ surrounding the final roadmap for many sporting activities in regional areas was inappropriate.

He said the assembly and Regional Sport Victoria also recommended that in considering sport that ‘regional Victoria’ be split into the five regional areas of Barwon, South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume and Loddon Mallee.

A third recommendation from the assembly peak body involved considering investing in regional under-18 youth with sporting participation products and opportunities.

“We’re asking the Sports Minister to consider the recommendations when further determining the roadmap for community sport in regional Victoria,” Mr Berry said.

“The reality is that at the moment, minimal details have been released regarding sport for step-three regional Victoria, and everyone involved is waiting for those details.”

The entire September 16, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!