Tuggeranong and Cooma win awards
While South Australia’s North Clare Football Club won top spot at this year’s Good Sports Awards, the ACT’s Tuggeranong Hawks Football Club were awarded the inaugural ACT Good Sport Club of the Year.
The Cooma Cats Australian Football Club were also recognised as NSW South Eastern regional winners of the award.
The Awards aim to celebrate Good Sports clubs who have gone above and beyond in promoting the values of the program – which helps clubs provide safe and family-friendly environments through the responsible management of alcohol.
Over the past few years, Tuggeranong have worked tirelessly to introduce a cultural change within its organisation and have been extremely proactive in the areas of alcohol management, drug education and respect for women.
They have also focused on community engagement and creating a family-friendly environment at the club.
“The club is committed to the long-term improvement of its culture, its facilities, and its members as a whole – and is keen to lead the local community when it comes to a responsible approach to alcohol, and health and fitness in general,” said Tuggeranong’s General Manager David Graham.
The Hawks have banned drinking when teams travel to and from venues as a team, banned alcohol at pre-season camps, employed a dietician to provide guidance to players and coaches and refused to sanction free drinks at social activities and events.
They have also conducted an AFL Community Education sessions with the senior playing group on drugs, alcohol and respect for women, changed the head coach to improve leadership and have let go several key players who weren’t willing to be part of the cultural change.
At the Cooma Cats, the club and their junior affiliate, the Snowy Supercats, have promoted the Good Sports program to all clubs in the region as being beneficial in raising awareness of responsible alcohol management and best practice for clubs.
The club was awarded $1500 to assist with fundraising for 2013 and have been credited with achieving Level 2 of the program.
“We’re quite chuffed to have won this award with Good Sports as it vindicates the cultural changes we have undertaken at our club over the past few years,” said club President Stuart Woods.
