The government has announced that it has reversed its decision to cut the funding required to cover affiliation with School Sports Australia. This follows a public outcry by Orienteering Tasmania and other state sport bodies over the last week. Without the funding 11 sports and 400 children would not have been able to compete in national competitions in 2015. For orienteering it would have meant that Tasmania children would have been in the ridiculous situation of not been able to compete with school children from other states and New Zealand in the Oceania Carnival to be held in Tasmania in January 2015.
The decision to affiliate is only for the next 12 months and for the moment we have breathing space for 2015. The Hobart Mercury has reported this morning that there will be a comprehensive review of this program so orienteering and other sports will need to be vigilant that there is a permanent solution put in place.
For 2015 parents and junior orienteers can again look forward to competing at Oceania and other national schools orienteering events.
Special thanks to Bert Elson, Warwick Moore, Judith Davies, Jan Hardy and members of parliament involved in securing the funding.
Ian Rathbone
OT Vice President
photo courtesy of Hobart Mercury