Page 4909 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 25 October 2011
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2020 plan in June this year. When we talk about community sport this afternoon, I think it is important to recognise and discuss a range of sport and recreation activities from traditional organised sports such as football, hockey and netball through to other club-run sports such as mountain biking, cross-country running and orienteering as well as what might be called passive recreational activities such as bushwalking or people simply getting out and about in Canberra’s wonderful open spaces. These activities are all part of the spectrum of sport and recreation and are important for mental and physical health and wellbeing.
The ACT Greens wholeheartedly agree that community sport and recreation should be supported. Put simply, the more active our community is, the healthier and happier we are. The benefits of participation in sport are obvious in terms of physical health and fitness. But more and more we are understanding the benefits of exercise for our mental health in terms of helping to combat depression and anxiety, for example. So sport and recreation is something we could further emphasise for its benefits for the whole person—physical, mental and social.
As an example, I recently attended the launch of a heartmoves exercise program for older people at Gungaderra Homestead in Gungahlin. The program is a gentle exercise program targeted for older people. The organisers well understand that the value of the program is as much that the exercises lift the spirits of the participants as that it lowers their risk of heart disease. The other key benefit is the social interaction between the participants, the opportunity to get out of the house and meet new people, which can be particularly important for people living in the new suburbs where there are less well established social networks.
We understand the great social function that sport and recreation clubs provide in our community, with the work of so many volunteers helping to run the carnivals and the sausage sizzles, administer enrolment days and all the other things that go with keeping a club ticking over. This helps to build positive relationships between people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities and helps to build a strong and resilient community.
The sense of community that is built around community sport and recreation clubs is of great benefit to our young people. We know that participation in sport can be a protective factor for them. Good health and a feeling of security and a sense of connection to others that comes from being involved in sport can help prevent those behaviours that have a negative impact on the lives of young people, such as suicidal behaviour, drug use and other antisocial behaviours. Community sport is an important way to help young people to foster good health and to connect with community in a safe and caring environment.
Many young people also go on to volunteer in roles such as coaching, umpiring and fundraising, therefore also helping them to develop skills and allowing them to contribute to the community. I have recently attended awards nights for a couple of the ACT major sporting groups—Hockey ACT and football ACT. I know Mr Doszpot was at both of those and some other members were at one or other of those events. I think they were a testament to exactly some of those comments I was making.
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