Final allocations of the AFL Flood Relief Program were advised to recipients this week. This funding has been complimented by widespread in-kind support from unaffected clubs to flood damaged clubs over the last months.

The AFL Flood Relief Program funds will go directly to clubs to replace damaged items and equipment and for measures that will ensure participation is maintained in the wake of the summer flooding and into the 2011 football season.

Glenn Scott, CEO of the WorkSafe VCFL stressed the importance for local communities to have a vibrant and healthy football netball club, "The hardships we have seen in country communities from these floods have been severe.
"In many of these instances, clubs have required immediate support to maintain their participation levels at their club, and to assist with basic things like alternate
ground hire, transportation, football equipment and cover for loss of income.

"I know firsthand that people couldn't wait for the football season to begin this year so that they could get a sense of 'normality' into their lives after a very
difficult, and very long summer thrown up by Mother Nature," said Scott.

As an example of the benefits this funding will have on country clubs, the Clunes Football Club will be using their funding to provide fuel vouchers to junior payers
to travel to matches, as their home ground will be unplayable this season. The Marong FNC will use their funds to repair their heavily damaged oval, while Cardross
will purchase temporary marquees and equipment to facilitate their playing schedule this season at alternate grounds.

The major contributors to the AFL Flood Relief Program were the AFL through various NAB Cup activities, The WorkSafe VCFL, AFL Victoria and the Collingwood FC
Foundation, along with the Geelong & District Football League, the Mornington Peninsula Football League and the Altona Sports Club.

The Collingwood FC Foundation contributed $50,000 to the AFL Flood Fund to support country clubs.
Listed below are the recipients of funds from the AFL Flood Relief Program:
CLUB

LEAGUE

Castlemaine

Bendigo FL

Clunes

Central Highlands FL

Creswick

Central Highlands FL

Kerang

Central Murray FL

Woorinen

Central Murray FL

Cora Lynn

Ellinbank DFL

Macorna

Golden Rivers FL

Murrabit

Golden Rivers FL

Quambatook

Golden Rivers FL

Wandella

Golden Rivers FL

Rochester

Goulburn Valley FL

North Bendigo

Heathcote DFL

Bridgewater

Loddon Valley FL

Inglewood

Loddon Valley FL

Marong

Loddon Valley FL

Newbridge

Loddon Valley FL

Avoca

Maryborough Castlemaine DFL

Carisbrook

Maryborough Castlemaine DFL

Cardross

Millewa FL

Charlton

North Central FL

Donald

North Central FL

Wedderburn

North Central FL

Robinvale

Sunraysia FL

Panmure

Warrnambool DFL

Dimboola

Wimmera FL

Horsham Saints

Wimmera FL

The 26 Clubs above will receive a total of $291,600 from the AFL Flood Relief Program

By Jock Allan