Last Hurrah for Aboriginal Corporation for Sporting and Recreational Activities (ACSRA)
Congratulations are well deserved for the Aboriginal Corporation for Sporting and Recreational Activities (ACSRA) in Narrabundah ACT for winning the best Organisation/ Agency/ Committee of the Year award at the recent ACT NAIDOC awards, said Senator Scullion today.
“It is a pity though that the award may well be the last hurrah for an organisation that has proudly served the Aboriginal community of the ACT for over 28 years, said Senator Scullion.
“Just days after being recognised at the NAIDOC awards for their excellent work, the government sent a letter advising that their funding application under the Indigenous Sporting and Recreation program that funds their operations was not successful.
“This letter and decision may effectively force the closure of a long standing and successful Indigenous sporting program and venue in the ACT.
“To add insult to injury the letter was addressed to Mr Noel Ingram who himself was recognised at the NAIDOC awards as the Elder of the year, said Senator Scullion.
“Thanks to the Gillard Labor government this years NAIDOC week is a week of sadness instead of a week of celebration for both Mr Ingram and the entire team at ACSRA.
“ACSRA run - or at least used to run, among other programs - the ACT schools Indigenous sports program, children’s sports programs, elders health programs, rugby league events, and a sporting grants program for young up and coming Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander sports people.
“All gone now thanks to this NAIDOC week announcement by the Gillard government, said Senator Scullion.
“I urge the government to have a close look at what it is that they hope to achieve through their Indigenous sporting programs and reconsider funding the award winning ACSRA and the programs that are delivered to the young Indigenous kids of the ACT, said Senator Scullion.
