Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly and sporting clubs unite amid coronavirus hardship

The assembly has invited clubs from across the region to actively participate in several sessions featuring expert guidance on how to best navigate the period of downtime.

Sports assembly executive officer David Berry said it was the right time to engage with clubs, as the initial shock of the coronavirus had passed.

"The aim is to engage with sporting clubs and help provide them with information to help them survive and prosper through this difficult period," he said.

"We've got a lot of competent volunteers at sporting clubs, but nobody has been in this situation before, no matter how competent they are. So we need to help.

"We also believe it's a good opportunity to do the things behind the scenes, the off-field stuff that usually gets pushed aside at this time of year."

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Each club registering for the webinars was asked to provide three topics they were hoping to discuss.

Mr Berry said financial stability was the most frequently listed concern.

"We will touch base with an accounting firm ... or someone who is in that field to try and get as much expert information as possible," he said.

"We're encouraging as much interaction as possible from the clubs as well to help us guide the content and provide the best information."

Edenhope-Apsley Football Netball Club president Carolyn Middleton said the program showed the sporting community's willingness to help each other through a difficult period.

"It's great to see clubs ready and willing to share resources about getting through this together, for the betterment of all clubs," she said.

"It's been a bit of a wake up call for all of us to come together and make sure we can all survive.

"Peoples attitudes around this have been really good."

Mrs Middleton said her key topics of discussion were how to best retain players and participants, how to stay financially stable, and how to better access government grants.

The first session of the program will be Monday, 11am.

Mr Berry said registration was available via the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly website.

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