Dannevirke Community Board helps struggling athletics club with costs

Enthusiastic athletes taking part in the 5- and 6-year-old boys event at the Dannevirke Athletics Club night at the Upper Domain.

The Dannevirke Athletics Club is booming, but officials are struggling to keep it affordable for everyone.

"A few years ago in 2013 when I took on this club, with the support of Matt Augustine and our small committee, we had 45 members. Today we have 144 members and huge support from the kids and the community. Dannevirke athletics is thriving," Kelly Gillard told Dannevirke Community Board members.

But, because of increasing fees from Athletics New Zealand and their affiliated region of Hawke's Bay/Gisborne, the club is struggling to keep costs down for families.

"Usually I ask for our affiliation fees to be paid by the Infinity Foundation, but this year they have had to cut back on what they give out, so we have unfortunately missed out," Gillard said.

Gillard said, in a letter to the board, there were high insurance costs associated with gear and the club had recently purchased more junior equipment with help from the RSA and local businesses.

"But having to pay for the hire of the Dannevirke Domain is just another cost we don't want to put back on to families through fees," she said.

The athletics club asked the community board to pay $171 to the Tararua District Council for the hire of the Domain, to help keep costs down and chairman Ross MacDonald and other board members were happy to agree.

"I understand the Dannevirke club is the most supported primary school athletics club in the district," MacDonald said.

The Dannevirke Athletics Club meets every Wednesday night during the season at the Domain and Gillard said they were always in need of more time keepers and would love extra help.