Australian cricketers Elyse Villani and James Pattinson added some star power to the launch of Brimbank council’s In2Sport grants program for 2014-15.
The cricketers’ attendance marked a new partnership between the council and Cricket Victoria, which has committed $8000 to the program in a bid to entice more Brimbank youngsters to get involved in sport, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Applications for In2Sport opened this week. The program is open to residents aged six to 18 whose family has a health care or pension concession card.
Participants can receive up to $200 to contribute to sports club fees.
Council chairman John Watson said more than 550 local children had benefited since the program started last year.
“About 290 of these applicants had never been involved in organised sport before,” he said.
