Having a few drinks at the footy when the NAB Challenge heads to Wangaratta could be vital help for the region’s young sports stars.
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Wangaratta Council officers have proposed a plan to create a junior sports development fund.
The money would come from 75 per cent of the Wangaratta Magpies’ liquor licence fee for the AFL match.
That fee was proposed as 3.5 per cent of the club’s takings at the gate.
Extra fees will come from another 10 businesses or groups selling food.
The initial idea was for the council to put the money towards development at Wangaratta Showgrounds.
That changed after negotiations with the Magpies.
Young sports stars competing in state, national or international appear set to benefit instead.
“The initiative will be designed to provide financial assistance for young people towards the cost of (but not limited to) travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment,” the report stated.
The council administrators will consider the idea at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Wangaratta’s Fraser Ellis, 15, was set to fly out to Bowral on Tuesday to play cricket with the Australia under 16s team against Pakistan.
His father Darren said the current travels were paid for by Cricket Australia, but not previous state tournaments.
Neither were travel costs for Fraser’s family.
Mr Ellis said he would support any type of junior sports development fund.
“It would be a real positive, it would really help a lot,” he said.
“You pretty much pay for it yourself.”
Tuesday’s meeting will be held at the council chambers from 6pm.
