A DEAL is close to being struck between warring factions over the distribution of money raised at Bendigo’s AFL practice match next year.
The Victorian Police charity organisation the Blue Ribbon Foundation traditionally put on the match, and since 1998 has donated the money raised to Bendigo hospital’s Tynan Eyre trauma unit.
However, the Victorian Country Football League and the Bendigo Football League set the cat among the pigeons in the lead up to Christmas, saying most of the money would go to football and netball facilities, instead of the hospital.
The decision ignited passions both with local police and with hospital staff, and threatened to cause a rift between the health and sporting communities of the city.
The Bendigo Weekly understands a deal is close to being done to allow both the BFL and the hospital to share the expected $50,000 equally. The full deal is expected to be made public in the coming weeks and includes things such as catering arrangements, which had provided funding for the hospital.
Catering will now be distributed to football bodies as part of the deal.
The issue broke when BFL chairman Damian Drum spoke out about the previous funding arrangement.
“It is the state government’s responsibility to adequately fund the Bendigo hospital not the proceeds of a match that is run by sporting people for sporting clubs,” Mr Drum said.
“I think it’s time to take a stand on the amount of money that is leaving the football fraternity in this region as a gift to the health system.”
Bendigo Health chief executive officer John Mulder said the Blue Ribbon Foundation donation was the major donation received specifically for the emergency department.
“Fundraising is about the community coming together to improve community services to meet the region’s needs, and this has been happening in Bendigo since the early 1800s,” he said.
“The money raised goes towards providing the best equipment and facilities and also to assist with staff training.
“Bendigo Health recognises the importance of the local sporting infrastructure for the health of our community, but our health service also plays a key role in looking after our local sporting participants.
“On any Saturday throughout the football season you will find a regular flow of strains, broken limbs, cuts, abrasions and head injuries moving through the Bendigo Health Emergency Department, several of these injuries also result in long stays within the rehabilitation service.
“We will always be there for our local sporting community but every bit of local support helps.”
The 2008 match will mark the 20th anniversary of the murders of police constables Steven Tynan and Damien Eyre and their parents are tipped to be at the ground to make the presentations after the game.
