Yinnar Football & Netball Club commits to the Sports Environment Alliance

Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) is excited to announce the Yinnar Football & Netball Club as the latest member of its sports organisation network.

The Yinnar Football & Netball Club plays in the Mid Gippsland Football League and the Mid Gippsland Netball Association. Known as the ‘Magpies’, Yinnar fields seven football teams and eight netball teams and is the most successful club in the league when it comes to senior football premierships with 13.

As the first regional grassroots sport organisation to join the SEA network, Yinnar Football & Netball Club secretary, Peter Quigley, said the Club looked forward to gaining knowledge and experience from other SEA Members as part of the collective effort to reduce sport’s environmental footprint.

“We all have a responsibility to do our bit for the environment and we can’t do it alone, so it is important that community-based organisations such as the Yinnar Football & Netball Club continue to be a “good community citizen” and offer more than just kicking the footy or throwing the netball,” Quigley said.

“Therefore, membership of SEA just makes sense, and helps us to continue to be seen as a “club of choice” in our community.”

Quigley explained that as part of its decision making process to join the SEA network, Yinnar had “eight aims which guide very decision we make, every activity we undertake”.

“Of these eight aims we have as a club, four particularly align with SEA,” Quigley said.

“We aim to provide an accessible, welcoming, inclusive and rewarding environment for all people associated with our Club, and strive to be a leader in football and netball management so the long term success and stability of the games within our community are maximised.

“We also aim to maximise the recreation, leisure and social opportunities for our community, and approach the leadership and management of our Club from the basis of establishing and maintaining strong internal and external relationships and partnerships.”

Quigley added that the Yinnar Football & Netball Club were already in the process of adopting standards that are more efficient, innovative and effective for the environment.

“We are working with other partners at our base (the Yinnar Recreation Reserve) on initiatives such as separation of organics from the waste stream generated at the Reserve and working on funding submissions to install solar power at our eastern oval pavilion buildings,” he said.

On welcoming the Yinnar Football & Netball Club as the 22nd member of the Sports Environment Alliance network, SEA Executive Director, Dr. Sheila Nguyen, said the Club had taken a lead role from a grassroots perspective in creating positive change for the environment.

“The Sports Environment Alliance is extremely excited to have Yinnar Football & Netball Club as part of its expanding sport organisation family,” Dr Nguyen said.

“Sport is the “glue” that holds local communities together.  Regional communities need spaces to play, places to experience the joys and tribulations of our wins and losses to allow us to move, learn and connect with our neighbours.

“To protect sport’s future, we need the collaborative effort of the sporting community from all levels because impact happens in our communities. While we are proud to have some of Australia’s national sporting organisations as part of our network, it is just as significant to have community clubs like the Yinnar Football & Netball Club as part of our family.

“Their commitment to adopting environmental standards that are more efficient, innovative and effective will make the changes we want to see for our clean future.”

Stay tuned to the Sports Environment Alliance website and its social media platforms –Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – for more information on initiatives involving Sports Environment Alliance and the Yinnar Football & Netball Club in the coming months.