Sports Medicine Australia estimates that a rate of 14 injuries occur for every 1,000 hours of netball played in Australia1. With hundreds of kids and adults through the courts each week at the Mackay Netball Association (MNA), the organisation has seen their fair share of injuries come through the doors, caused by this beloved sport.
Treating these injuries as quickly and cost effectively as possible has been a challenge for MNA in the past. With valuable dollars from the not-for-profit organisation being spent on purchasing ice bags each week to support injured players, it was finally time to find an alternative solution. With a cool $2,595 in funding to purchase a new ice machine through our Queensland Country Bank Good for Good Community Grant, the Mackay Netball Association is now able to produce their own ice for a fraction of the cost. The ice machine will not only supply ice for the treatment of injuries, but also be used in their courtside canteen.
Mackay Netball Association Secretary Jenny Moohin says having ice on demand will offer greater convenience and ongoing time and cost savings for the association.
“We need to have an adequate supply of ice on hand at all times to treat injuries,” says Ms Moohin.
“The ice machine means we’ll have ice on demand, and makes it more convenient for our volunteers to bag it up for when we need it.
“As we will no longer have to pay for ice, we estimate we’ll save at least $1000 annually on ice when combining the cost of the ice we use for injuries and in our court side canteen.”
Queensland Country Bank Area Manager Bill Paton said he was delighted that a local association was one of eight community groups throughout Queensland to receive a share of the $120,000 grant funding awarded in this year’s Queensland Country Good for Good Community Grants.
“As a member-owned bank, we’re committed to helping Members reach their financial goals, so it’s especially rewarding to know that purchasing the ice machine through this grant funding will contribute to ongoing cost savings for Mackay Netball,” says Mr Paton.
“Sport and recreation facilities are important for physical and mental wellbeing and to create a healthy community, and we take great pride in contributing to our community through grants and sponsorships.”
Ms Moohin says the purchase of the ice machine would not have been possible without the Queensland Country Bank Good for Good Community Grant and acknowledged the ongoing support they have received from the local bank.
“Queensland Country Bank has been involved and has supported Mackay Netball’s Winter Carnival for a few years now and we truly appreciate the relationship we have developed with Bill and his team in the Caneland Central branch.”
This is the fourth year that we have run our Good for Good Community Grants program, and follows a long history of supporting the community through over $2.4 million in grants to support Queensland community projects. An element of Queensland Country Good for Good Grants involves each grant recipients in paying it forward, by partnering with us to fundraise 10% of their grant value for our charity partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities.