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- Valley Sport eNews - December 2025
Valley Sport eNews - December 2025
Valley Sport eNews - 1 December 2025
Hey there! It’s been a big month at Valley Sport, filled with collaboration, community connection and plenty of exciting work across our region. From launching our 2024–2025 Annual Report to rolling out inclusive events and club development workshops, we’ve been busy championing safer, stronger and more welcoming community sport. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to - and what’s coming next!
Strengthening Community Sport Together
2024-2025 Annual Report Now Available
Following our AGM, we are pleased to share the release of our 2024–2025 Annual Report - a reflection of a year shaped by collaboration, community connection, and strengthening the sport and recreation sector across our regions.
Over the past year, our work focused on empowering volunteers, supporting community sporting clubs, delivering inclusive participation programs, and deepening partnerships across all seven LGAs. From governance support and capacity-building workshops to inclusive initiatives such as Let Them Play and the GV Harmony Cup, our collective impact continues to grow thanks to the incredible people and organisations we work alongside.
To our clubs, volunteers, partners, councils, funders, and community members - thank you. Your dedication, passion, and belief in the power of community sport continue to drive regional sport forward.
As we look to the year ahead, we remain committed to building a connected, resilient, and inclusive sporting ecosystem - one that supports participation for all and enhances the health and wellbeing of our communities……and keep an eye out our new strategic plan will launch in the new year, setting an exciting direction for the future of regional sport.
👉 Read the full report: https://valleysport.net.au/about-us/annual-report/
📩 Want to collaborate? Contact us: [email protected]
Keeping Community Sport Safe This Summer
With hotter conditions on the way, it’s important that players, volunteers, officials and spectators know how to stay safe in the heat.
Sports Medicine Australia and The University of Sydney’s Heat and Health Research Centre have released two new evidence-based resources designed to support safe decision-making across community sport:
🌡️ Sports Heat Tool - provides real-time, sport-specific heat risk forecasts to help coaches, clubs and participants determine whether to Play, Delay or Call it a Day.
📘 Extreme Heat Risk and Response Guidelines - offer practical advice on recognising, managing and preventing heat-related illness, including preparation, hydration, and emergency response.
These tools are valuable for clubs, associations, facility managers, event organisers and anyone involved in community sport - helping ensure participation remains safe, enjoyable and inclusive for all.
👉 Access both resources here: https://sma.org.au/resources/policies-and-guidelines/hot-weather/
 | Respect in Sport 101 Workshop Coming to Mansfield Shire!Join us for a FREE Respect in Sport 101 Workshop designed to help your club build a culture of safety, equality and respect - setting you up for long-term success on and off the field. This practical, engaging session will support clubs to: ✅ Drive standards of respect 📅 Monday 8 December 2025 ⚠️ One booking per club - limited spots available! Let’s work together to build safer, more respectful and more inclusive community sport across Mansfield Shire. 💙 |
 | Inclusive Swimming Comes to Seymour!Swimming Victoria is heading to Seymour as part of the Hume & Upper Goulburn District Development Weekend, and we’re excited to share a welcoming opportunity for people with disability to connect with the Victorian swimming community. The Abilities Program is designed for swimmers with basic swimming ability and provides a supportive, inclusive environment to: ✅ Experience the joy of swimming in a relaxed club event Please note - this is not a learn-to-swim session, but a safe space to give swimming a go, build confidence, and explore what’s possible. 📅 Sunday 7 December 2025 Let’s continue making swimming accessible, inclusive and welcoming for everyone. 💙 |
 | Get ready - All Abilities Badminton is coming to SEYMOUR!We’re excited to invite community members to a FREE Come & Try session, open to all ages and abilities. Whether you’re completely new to badminton or just love a social hit, this is the perfect opportunity to experience the game in a fun, welcoming and inclusive environment. 🙌 After the session, stick around for a bite to eat and a chance to connect with fellow participants, families and supporters. 💬✨ 📅 Saturday 13 December 2025 For more information, contact Sharna: We can’t wait to see you on court - let’s make badminton accessible and enjoyable for everyone! 💙🏸 |
We are excited to share a fantastic opportunity from Murray PHN for sporting clubs and community groups across our region!
Murray PHN is offering FREE Tomorrow Woman workshops - More Than the Game or Gather - delivered onsite at your club. These immersive two-hour sessions empower women and girls by challenging narrow expectations, building confidence, and strengthening voice, choice and leadership.
What’s included?
✔ Free delivery of a Tomorrow Woman workshop at your club
✔ Murray PHN will cover participant refreshments — up to $900 per club
✔ Tailored, engaging sessions supporting safer, more inclusive sporting environments
✔ Ideal for players, volunteers, coaches, parents and community members
Workshops are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis - so get in early!
👉 Learn more and apply: https://murrayphn.org.au/news/sporting-club-workshops-for-women/
Bring this powerful learning opportunity to your club and help strengthen the confidence, wellbeing and leadership of women and girls across community sport.
November Highlights:
What We’ve Been Up To Across the Region
It’s been a big month of collaboration, connection and capacity-building for community sport across the Goulburn Valley and beyond - and we’re excited to share some highlights from our work with local clubs, councils and partners.
Project Officer Heath recently visited Violet Town Bowls Club, meeting with club leaders Margaret, Graham and Laurell to chat governance support, the Club Hub program and child safety - including a walkthrough of our Level Up Portal. A great opportunity to champion safe, inclusive and well-run community sport. More than 29 committee members, coaches and volunteers from 16 sporting clubs gathered at Euroa Memorial Oval for the Strathbogie Respect in Sport Workshop, delivered by Lucy, Sharna and Heath. Thank you to Strathbogie Shire Council’s Kate McKernan and Kate Petersen for their partnership - a fantastic show of commitment to building respectful, welcoming sporting environments. |  |
Valley Sport is proud to join the Benalla Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG). Lucy attended the first induction session, connecting with local organisations and contributing the voice of sport and recreation to broader community inclusion planning. Exciting collaborative work ahead - stay tuned! In Shepparton, we hosted Vaping Support for Goulburn Valley Sporting Clubs alongside GV PHU, GV Health, Good Sports and Greater Shepparton City Council. Clubs gained valuable insights into vaping trends and practical strategies for safer club environments. We also showcased key Valley Sport supports - including Club Hubs, Level Up and Game Plan. |  |
Local sporting clubs came together at Benalla Bowls Club for our latest Disaster Resilience Workshop, funded by FRRR and supported by VICSES. Led by Nate and Lucy, participants explored emergency planning, risk assessments, asset registers and strategies to maintain operations during crises. 💙 Want support for your club? Contact us anytime at [email protected] |  |
 Sport & Recreation Victoria Local Sports Infrastructure Fund Amount: Councils being able to apply for between $40,000 and $500,000 | Sport & Recreation Victoria Country Football and Netball Program Amount: Councils being able to apply for up to $250,000 |
Sport & Recreation Victoria Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant Program Amount: up to $2,000 |  Moira Shire Council Community Quick Response Grants Amount: up to $5,000 |
If you have any questions or would like assistance applying for any of the above grants, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.
Follow the Valley Sport Facebook page to keep up to date with resources and tips that will be useful for you and your club. We encourage you to share our posts with your members.
Valley Sport are always here to support your club and you can reach us via the platforms below:
Email: [email protected]
Valley Sport Website: https://valleysport.net.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleySport.GVSA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valleysport.gvsa/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/valleysportgvsa
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