A Dubbo-based football club with plans to run a sixes tournament and a program aimed at increasing female participation will be able to do so, thanks to financial support from the NSW Government’s Local Sports Grants Program
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders joined with members of Macquarie United Football Club recently to announce almost $4750 worth of funding for the club to host the events in late 2021 and early 2022.
From the funding, $1750 will be spent on the club hosting the “Our Time To Shine” female-based program next year for interested females aged 5 years and upwards, while $3000 will go towards the club hosting the third annual Dubbo Sixes Tournament in October of this year.
“It’s wonderful that Macquarie United is looking at different ways of promoting football and getting people involved in the game,” Mr Saunders said.
“Female participation in sport is something the government is really placing an emphasis on, and I know the ‘Our Time To Shine’ program will provide a wonderful pathway for girls to get involved or continue to hone their skills.
“The Sixes event is in its third year and is a fast-paced version of the game that is aimed at providing something different, and the best part is that it attracts male and female teams to the region, as well as being culturally diverse in the teams it attracts.”
Macquarie United Football Club president Rhys Osborne said the funding was a welcome boost for the club.
“We’re very proud to be selected as a recipient for the Local Sports Grants Program and committed to supporting and accommodating the growth across the club and events hosted in 2021 and onwards,” Mr Osborne said.
“The Sixes provides a boost to local tourism, benefits health and wellbeing in the community, and is great for the overall local economy, while ‘Our Time To Shine’ allows us to focus on supporting the significant increase in female football participation overall and provide ongoing individual development.”