Boomanulla Oval is closed

“But Sports Minister Andrew Barr says the ACT Government is not in a position to step in and fund the organisation”

But they happily fund lots of other things, most of dubious value to anyone (sculptures anyone? roads reduntant as soon as they’re complete … the list goes on into infinity). Surely this a pretty worthwhile cause and the sums involved not that great

Shame on the cmth government though … this must be their ‘epic fail #632323’, and that’s just this year’s tally

alaninoz said :

As mentioned above, funding is competitive. No idea what was rated more highly than Boomanulla, but someone thought they are more worthy.

Oh, I understand the realities of the world, and clearly if the program had been funded for many years, it was the sort of program that should have found a home as part of something which is supposed to be ongoing, and not in a position where this kinda thing could happen.

p1 said :

It is all well and good to say “Expecting non-recurrent funding to be continued to be awarded year after year is never going to end well”, but I would take the alternate view, and say clearly this is exactly the sort of service that governments should fund ’cause they wouldn’t exist otherwise?

Unless the government thinks that something dodgy was going on, or that they were not getting value for money, but I see no suggestion of that?

As mentioned above, funding is competitive. No idea what was rated more highly than Boomanulla, but someone thought they are more worthy.

It is all well and good to say “Expecting non-recurrent funding to be continued to be awarded year after year is never going to end well”, but I would take the alternate view, and say clearly this is exactly the sort of service that governments should fund ’cause they wouldn’t exist otherwise?

Unless the government thinks that something dodgy was going on, or that they were not getting value for money, but I see no suggestion of that?

the National Indigenous Times will be covering the Boomanulla Raiders home game on Saturday.

since the Aboriginal community feels so strongly about this, I’m sure they’ll raise the needed money themselves, and the various office-holders will work as volunteers. Like every other community who wants somehting that the government won’t fund. We’ll see this really take off. Yep.

(crickets)

milkman said :

Any chance the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community could fund it themselves (or even organise some fund raising from external sources)?

It would help to have some idea of the required amount, but I would love to contribute to a “Save Boomunulla” fund.I reckon most of the local mob would also

Any chance the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community could fund it themselves (or even organise some fund raising from external sources)?

Has Natasha Cole just jumped ship to Prime Ministers from Infrastructure Australia?

You know, the miserable creatures who decided a toll should be applied to the Majura Parkway.

The bottom line is increasingly more important than social responsibility.

Boomanulla is so much more than an oval, it is also a focal point of community gatherings and events, like the recent Naidoc family day. It is also a safe place for kids to learn skills, and talent to be fostered.

Sure, their pecuniary situation might have been shaky, however an organisation that contributes so much to community should not be judged on that alone.

I’m sad for the loss of such a great facility, and the loss of social capital it’s closure brings.
I hope there’s something we can do to save it