Gosford Water Polo Club has received $8,716 in grant funding from the NSW Government’s $4.4M Local Sport Grant Program to be directed towards the club’s Women in Water Polo Program.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said sport was in the Central Coast’s DNA.
“It is vital to community health, wellbeing and identity,” she said.
“This vital funding for grassroots sport will help our local sport clubs and their passionate volunteers to provide more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to reap the benefits of participation in sport.
“I congratulate Gosford Water Polo Inc and look forward to the amazing project outcomes that this grant fund will help deliver.”
Gosford Water Polo president Tracey Worrall said the Women in Water Polo Program was more than just playing water polo; it’s about building a supportive and inclusive community.
“The grant will specifically be directed towards growing and supporting all of our girls and senior women, with a direct focus on active playing, coaching and refereeing,” she said.
“We will be able to develop improved training sessions, purchase necessary equipment and subsidise tournament fees, making it more accessible for women to participate.
“From a coaching perspective, these funds will enable us to explore opportunities to improve our training, and mentorship for our female athletes.
“When it comes to refereeing, by offering workshops and certification courses, we aim to increase the number of qualified female referees, which will benefit all Central Coast water polo clubs.”
The grants program provides up to $20,000 to individual clubs and associations with $50,000 available in each electorate to increase participation in community sport, host events, improve access and enhance sport and recreation facilities.
Five projects were awarded funding in the Gosford electorate this year for new equipment, programs and facilities valued at $37,531.