HEALTH and Sports Minister Sussan Ley spent a hectic afternoon at Hurstville on April 15 accompanying Banks MP David Coleman to meetings with sporting groups and a local charity with the idea of offering funding support.
Ms Ley met with Mary Kranitis, Juvenile Arthritis Fundraiser founder and the current Hurstville Citizen of the Year, to discuss juvenile arthritis research.
Mr Coleman said that support from Mrs Kranitis and the foundation had been critical in allowing researchers at the University of NSW to establish a dedicated research unit to address clinical and research questions related to juvenile arthritis.
"Mrs Kranitis began fundraising in 2007 and has raised in excess of $700,000 to fund research at UNSW into the disease," Mr Coleman said.
"During our discussion, we spoke about the crucial issues being faced by those who suffer from this disease. The minister will look into the best ways to support the foundation."
The meeting with Mrs Kranitis was followed with round table discussion with sporting groups.
Held at Hurstville Aquatic Centre, the forum gave sporting groups the chance to discuss the proposed upgrade of Penshurst Park, the Sporting Schools program and the Local Sporting Champions initiative.
More than 40 representatives from local sporting organisations came to the meeting.
"The upgrade to the park will benefit local sporting organisations and act as a sporting and recreational hub for the region," Mr Coleman said.
"It's important this upgrade goes ahead and I will be seeking federal funding to help build it."
Mr Coleman also emphasised the importance of the government's Local Sporting Champions grant which helped young sportspeople with travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment costs when competing in state or regional championships.
The program offers up to three terms of sporting activity.
TALKING SPORT
Lugarno Football Club president John Taylor was impressed with the forum and the input from the politicians but believes the main problems affecting sport in the region came from Hurstville Council.
‘‘We would really love the council to have a maintenance program for parks in the region,’’ he said.
He said that ‘‘by and large’’ the clubs did their own maintenance including spraying for weeds, and the council should put something in place.
‘‘A bit of forward thinking would be good,’’ he said.
Otherwise, he would love to see a synthetic field at Penshurst Park and for the park to be shared by different sporting codes.
