One Day Sports hits the Eastern Wheatbelt

Hockey, football and netball associations in the eastern Wheatbelt region are working together on supporting volunteers who deliver Winter sport when the new One Day Sports initiative commences.

The project, which is a partnership between Hockey WA, Netball WA, the West Australian Football Commission, the West Australian Country Football Association and Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, aims to align the three winter sports to avoid clashes, therefore meaning more people can take part.

While the event this year will only run across three rounds, it’s an exciting taste-test of what is to come in future years for winter sports in the eastern Wheatbelt region, and other regional associations.

Hockey WA Member Services Coordinator Kristen Jerkovich said the hours of hard work put into the project by all stakeholders involved will finally pay off this weekend, when towns are brought together by their love of sport.

“Hockey WA is super excited about supporting our associations in this community project that allows everyone to be brought together through sport,” she said.

“Having all three state bodies working together with DLGSC showcases our commitment to bringing all communities together for their benefit and the benefit of our sports.

“Getting numbers for some towns can be difficult, so aligning the whole town to one location on a particular day presents the opportunity for people to cross codes and make up full teams in all sports.”

The aim of the scheduling is to minimise travel for families, allowing both children and their parents to compete at the same venue, on the same day, something that has been lacking in previous years and has lead to declining numbers.

One Day Sports came about after members of regional sporting associations expressed their concerns for future participation levels in hockey, football and netball at a community Sport Return to Play Workshop in March.

Netball WA’s Membership Coordinator Jaime-Leigh Strickland said aligning the winter sports is crucial for their sustainability going forward.

“Netball WA are really conscious of making our community members lives easier, we also understand that sport is the life blood of the wheatbelt and aligning the three winter sports as much as possible will allow families to spend more time together, allow players to play in multiple sports and reduce volunteer hours, that has to be something we keep working towards for the future. ”

A feature round will take part on Saturday, May 1, and will see the community-driven scheme launched in various towns, with all locals encouraged to come down and support their local sides in the exciting day out.

Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Merredin, Southern Cross and Lake Grace will host the first round of matches, with 11 games fixtured to take place across the three sports.

WAFC Manager of Country Football Development Brent Sheridan said there is great promise for the future in all three sports.

“We are excited to see the three sports and our communities come together and explore what the future could hold," he said. 

"Finding players and volunteers continues to be priority number one to keep our clubs vibrant and sustainable and this is a great way to help spread the load.

 “Bringing families together to enjoy their sport and support each other highlights the great role sport plays in bringing our communities together.”

Ms Jerkovich said the opportunities that will come out of not only this year’s trial run, but future years to come, are endless.

“All state sporting associations are committed to assisting our regional associations in facilitating this initiative going well beyond these three rounds this season, because we know the positive impact that this can have and the legacy it can leave.”

FIXTURES FOR ROUND ONE OF ONE DAY SPORTS - Saturday 1 May

BRUCE ROCK

Eastern Districts Hockey Association – Bruce Rock vs Burracoppin

Eastern Districts Football League – Bruce Rock vs Burracoppin

Corrigin & Districts Netball Association – Bruce Rock vs Merredin (exhibition match)

CORRIGIN

Roe Districts Hockey Association – Corrigin vs Karlgarin/Hyden

Eastern Districts Football League – Corrigin vs Hyden/Karlgarin

MERREDIN

Eastern Districts Hockey Association – Merredin vs Narembeen

Eastern Districts Football League – Nukarni vs Narembeen

Merredin Districts Junior Football Association – Royals vs Swans / Bulldogs vs Falcons

SOUTHERN CROSS

Eastern Districts Football League – Southern Cross vs Kulin/Kondinin

Corrigin & Districts Netball Association – Southern Cross vs Kulin (exhibition match)

LAKE GRACE

Roe Districts Hockey Association – Lake Grace Kukerin vs Kulin Kondinin