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Submission by Margaret Muirhead on 12 October 2008.
1. Ensure Australia's continued elite sporting success
Not applicable to my submission
2. Better place sport and physical activity as a key component of the Government's preventative health approach
As a retiree of 81 years I have been playing the game of Croquet for the last 6 years. This seemingly old fashioned but extremely undervalued sport is suitable for all ages and for both men and women, but it has been seriously overlooked in the whole culture of Sport. My submission is to emphasise the value of Croquet to the older members of our community, and to support the expansion of the Sport through Government support, both at the Federal & the Local level. The game is played outdoors, all year round, involves walking, bending, arm movements, co-ordination, mental challenge and concentration. A game of Association Croquet, or 2 hours of Golf Croquet [equals four games of Golf Croquet, can take the player walking over 2 to 4 kms within the 32m X 26m, approximtely, grass courts. The simpler game of Golf Croquet can be played with minimal tuition, making it suitable for older people who may not have the longevity to go through the minimum 3 months of coaching necessary for the longer and more complicated game of Association Croquet. It is also a pleasantly social game, with a touch of aggression to suit the more competetive amongst us. Inter-club and Interstate tournaments are conducted on a regular basis. All of the above lead to increasing mobility and reactivating retirees who may have given up on any sporting activity due to age and approaching fragility. People continue to play Croquet into their nineties. New members have come to the game bearing problems such as depression, bereavement, hip or knee replacements etc, etc, and been revitalised by the social, physical and mental stimulants of the game. BUT... although some Local Councils are supportive in providing and maintaining grounds and facilities for the 19 established Croquet Clubs in Western Australia, and many others throughout Australia, most Clubs are struggling with increasing costs and reducing membership. My submission to the Sport Panel is to seek more visibility and support for the game of Croquet from governments, sporting bodies and aged service providers. Also assistance is needed to train more coaches, to ensure adequate funding for maintenance of courts, NB the quality of the lawn surface is not as critical as for Lawn Bowls but still requires regular and careful attention, for overhead lights to ensure that games can be played in the cool evenings and for publicity to recruit more members. This may be the only submission that you receive in the interests of the sport of croquet. Nonetheless, it is a most genuine and urgent request for further investigation, inquiries and acknowledgement for a sport that can positivley delay the ageing process in our ever increasing senior community. Please don't put this submission to the bottom of the pile.
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport
Croquet is run entirely by volunteers. Coaches and officials give their time freely, sometimes receiving a little assistance with 'travel money'. A very real form of support would be for funds to be provided to ensure that coaches are fairly reimbursed for their time and their knowledge when they run classes.
4. Maintain Australia's cutting edge approach to sports science, research and technology
Not appplicable to this submission
5. Identify opportunities to increase and diversify the funding base for sport through corporate sponsorship, media and any recommended reforms, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Australian Sports Foundation
No response
Page last updated: 12 October, 2008