Orbost Bowls Club will soon have new bowls, while members will be aided by the use of bowling arms, thanks to a VicHealth Active Club Grant.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, a former member of the VicHealth board, today congratulated the club on its successful application, receiving $2500 for the equipment upgrade.

“My full congratulations go out to all the volunteers who applied for the grants on behalf of the club,” he said.

“Orbost Bowls Club is one of the 358 across Victoria, and 12 across East Gippsland, to share in more than $939,000 to enable more Victorians to get physically active.

“The Active Club Grants make a unique contribution to the Victorian community by improving the health of inactive and somewhat active Victorians whilst also supporting people to continue participation in sport and active recreation. This focus is aligned with VicHealth’s 10-year goal of getting 300,000 Victorians more physically active by 2023.

“I am sure the updated equipment will encourage a higher participation rate and boost the profiles of the Orbost Bowls Club,” Mr Bull said.

Lakes Entrance’s netballers will play in new, updated uniforms after receiving a VicHealth Active Club Grant, Member for Gippsland East, has announced.

Mr Bull, a former VicHealth board member, said both the local netball association and Lakes Entrance Croquet Club were successful with their recent VicHealth grant applications, receiving $1760 and $1350 respectively.

“While the netballers will purchase new uniforms for the competitions in which they compete, Lakes Entrance Croquet Club will buy three boxes of balls for their matches,” he said.

“My full congratulations go out to all the volunteers who applied for the grants on behalf of the local sporting clubs successful in attaining much-needed funding,” Mr Bull said.

“These clubs are just two of the 358 across Victoria, and 12 across East Gippsland, to share in more than $939,000 to enable more Victorians to get physically active.

“The Active Club Grants make a unique contribution to the Victorian community by improving the health of inactive and somewhat active Victorians whilst also supporting people to continue participation in sport and active recreation. This focus is aligned with VicHealth’s 10-year goal of getting 300,000 Victorians more physically active by 2023.

“I am sure the updated equipment and uniforms these clubs will receive will encourage a higher participation rate and boost the profiles of the clubs,” Mr Bull said.

Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, takes aim at Lakes Entrance Croquet Club recently. The club has received a VicHealth Active Club Grant to the value of $1350 to purchase new balls.

Bairnsdale Golf and Bairnsdale bowls clubs will purchase new bowls and bowling aids, while Cobblers Creek Pony Club, Glenaladale Cricket Club and Buchan Football Netball Club will also update their equipment after receiving VicHealth Active Club Grants.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the five clubs were all successful with their recent applications.

Bairnsdale Golf Bowls Club ($2710) will purchase four sets of bowls and four bowling arms for disabled bowlers and Bairnsdale Bowls Club ($2890) to buy 20 sets of bowls.

“Cobblers Creek Pony Club ($2973) will purchase safety jumping vests, jump stands, safety cups, mounting blocks and a polocrosse set, while Glenaladale Cricket Club ($2931) will receive new match balls ahead of the upcoming Bairnsdale Cricket Association season.

“Buchan Football Netball Club ($2449) will also receive bench top timers, padding for the netball goal posts, new netballs, netball uniforms and bibs and umpires’ whistles.

“My full congratulations go out to all the volunteers who applied for the grants on behalf of the local sporting clubs and groups successful in attaining much-needed funding,” Mr Bull, a former VicHealth board member, said.

“These clubs are just some of the 358 across Victoria, and 12 across East Gippsland, to share in more than $939,000 to enable more Victorians to get physically active.

“The Active Club Grants make a unique contribution to the Victorian community by improving the health of inactive and somewhat active Victorians whilst also supporting people to continue participation in sport and active recreation. This focus is aligned with VicHealth’s 10-year goal of getting 300,000 Victorians more physically active by 2023.

“I am sure the updated equipment will encourage a higher participation rate and boost the profiles of these clubs,” Mr Bull said.

Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull (right), met with Bairnsdale Bowls Club chairman Doug Paterson and men’s bowls section secretary Andy Franke today. With the help of grants and subsidies officer, Geoff Aitken, the club has received a $2710 VicHealth Active Club Grant to purchase 20 sets of bowls.

Maffra Scout Group, Stratford Junior Football Club, Stratford Netball Club and Boisdale-Briagolong Football Netball Club will share in more than $9000 in funding thanks to the VicHealth Active Club Grants program.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, today congratulated the four local clubs after applying for the VicHealth grants earlier this year.

“My full congratulations go out to all the volunteers who applied for the grants on behalf of the local sporting clubs and groups successful in attaining much-needed funding,” he said.

“Stratford Netball Club received $2882, Stratford Junior Football Club $2698, Boisdale Briagolong Football Netball Club $2226 and Maffra Scout Group $2044.”

“Maffra Scout Group will use the money to buy paddles, life jackets and helmets, Stratford Netball Club will purchase netball uniforms and bibs, Boisdale-Briagolong FNC will restock its game-day footballs and netballs, while Stratford Junior Football Club will add three first aid kits, 57 junior football helmets and 20 footballs to its collection.”

Mr Bull, a former member of the VicHealth board, said across Victoria, 358 clubs and community groups were successful in the grants process, which shared in more than $939,000 in funding, which encourages Victorians to become more active.

“The Active Club Grants make a unique contribution to the Victorian community by improving the health of inactive and somewhat active Victorians whilst also supporting people to continue participation in sport and active recreation. This focus is aligned with VicHealth’s 10-year goal of getting 300,000 Victorians more physically active by 2023.

“I am sure the new club uniforms, or updated sports equipment, will encourage a higher participation rate and boost the profiles of their clubs,” Mr Bull said.

Caption: Boisdale-Briagolong Football Netball Club supporters cheer on the Bombers at a recent East Gippsland Football Netball League match. The club has received a $2226 VicHealth Active Club Grant to purchase new match-day footballs and netballs.

The Country Fire Authority must maintain its complete independence, said State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, today.

He was commenting after a decision this week by the Fair Work Commission that the CFA Board, Volunteer Fire Brigades of Victoria and a number of local CFA members believe hands too much control of the organisation to a city-based union.

“When the Labor Minister herself says she has major concerns with the deal and that she supports the CFA, but is overruled by Premier Daniel Andrews, it is a grave concern,” Mr Bull said.

“The CFA Board – and we have one local member here in East Gippsland – is not happy. It feels it has been dictated to rather than listened to.

“I have had a number of long-serving local CFA members, many current brigade captains and ex-captains from right across the electorate, say they fear a mass resignation of members if this proceeds.

“There is an old saying that ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ and to me this reeks of payback from the Premier for those union members who manned polling booths for him in marginal seats at the last election.

“Our CFA volunteers are more than just firefighters – they do so much more in our communities and in many ways are the backbone of some of our towns,” he said.

Among the major concerns of this deal are the: •Backing the UFU bid for paid firefighters not to fight blazes until there are seven professionals on the scene; •Banning paid firefighters from taking orders from volunteers except during major bushfires;  and •Handing the union an ­effective veto power over CFA management decisions — with the creation of a dispute resolution officer.

Mr Bull will present his petition with about 500 signatures to Parliament next week, urging the Premier to keep his hands off the CFA.

Caption: State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, with the petitions he will table in Parliament next week in support of the CFA volunteers.