Issue 60 : 26 July 2020

Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Malo E Leilei, Tena Koutou, Hello ...

... and welcome to the latest issue of “For The Love Of The Game”, the official e-zine of the New Zealand Amateur Sport Association Inc. We hope you enjoy reading the articles below.

If you have any feedback on this issue, ideas for future articles, or would like to contact the Editor, please click here. And, you are invited to forward the e-zine to others you know, who may be interested in reading it. An archive of earlier editions of the e-zine can be found here.

If you are interested in applying for membership of the Association, please click here.


Association Meets With Parliamentary Opposition ...

Following an earlier meeting with the Sport & Recreation Minister, Association Chairman, Gordon Noble-Campbell met with the Opposition spokesperson for Sport and Recreation, Mark Mitchell earlier this week, to introduce the Association and discuss the importance of community sport to the physical, mental and social well-being, of all New Zealanders.


(Gordon Noble-Campbell met with Mark Mitchell at Parliament, this week)


Given the challenges arising from COVID-19 and the associated impact on sport, Mark and Gordon agreed that Government has an important role in ensuring that organised community sport continues to be accessible to all, as well as providing key social infrastructure essential to the well-functioning of New Zealand society. The Association looks forward to a continued dialogue with Mark in the lead-up to (and post) the upcoming Parliamentary Election.


“Tackle The Struggle” ...

“Silverline” (an Otago University student-led initiative that challenges the struggles associated with mental health and well-being) is teaming up with Otago Rugby Rugby Football Union through its men’s-led mental health campaign "It's Not Awkward Bro", to positively support mental health in sport, from the grassroots up.



Using sport as a means to develop trusting relationships and encourage communication both on and off-the-field, is a positive way to support the mental health of everyone who enjoys being "part of the game" in their community, including players, volunteers and supporters.



Silverline’s key message is that “It’s Not Awkward Bro”, with this campaign principally focused on males involved in the game of rugby, encouraging them to use their sporting involvement as an avenue to open-up conversations if they feel alone, isolated, or awkward about their state of mind. The campaign kicks-off in August, with more details available by contacting Silverline via their web-site (www.silverlineotago.org), or via their social media channels.


(The combined Clubs of the Otago Rugby Union will join to "tackle the struggle")


The Association applauds this initiative as an example of how community sport can do a lot more for all New Zealanders than simply provide access to "playing the game".


Clubs In Crisis ...

The Australian Sports Foundation reports that COVID-19 has created a crisis that threatens the existence of thousands of community sport clubs across Australia, and the communities of members, volunteers, coaches, and families that are involved with them. A survey undertaken by the Foundation reveals that community sport’s shutdown has damaged the physical and mental health of millions of Australians.



93% of all clubs surveyed have lost money since the onset of COVID-19, caused by a steep decline in revenues and the need to pay ongoing costs; up to 80% of clubs forecast ongoing reductions in core revenue streams (such as memberships, local sponsorships and community fundraising), while 97% of all clubs surveyed face additional COVID-19 related costs. COVID-19 has also significantly impacted Australia’s 3 million sporting volunteers, with up to 43% of sports clubs projecting a decline in volunteering, contributing further to fears about the sustainability of many local community sports clubs.


(How study participants rated their own health during the COVID-19 lockdown)


You can download and read the full report, by clicking here.


From The CEO’s Desk ...

It’s been great getting out in recent weeks to see my daughters‘ netball and plenty of afternoon club sport happening around our communities. Sport, indeed local community sport, simply does not exist without the support of people who give their own time to make the game happen.



Whether that be the team coach or scorer; the umpires or refs; the person in charge of the club website; the club kitchen and bar staff - there are countless people involved that enable the community sport system to function. Remember too, particularly through the uncertainty of these times, that it’s likely there will be more people looking to be involved in their local community.

Volunteering is a great way to engage and network and local community sports clubs should be mindful of the importance of having a volunteer programme as a matter of priority. Dedicated resourcing is a good place to start. For example, having a person responsible for overseeing volunteers, as you would for coach development or managing the club facilities.



It’s so important to invest in your greatest asset and as a community club, these are not only your players and coaches, but your volunteers who really make it all happen. So next time, when you leave the netball court or the clubrooms, don’t forget to acknowledge these people - a simple "thanks" goes a long way and its the least we can do for the hard "mahi" being put in each week, so we can once again be out enjoying local community sport.


Merv’s "Match" Comes To An End ...

Having recently passed away at the age of 88, Wellington’s Merv Allardyce’s life-long involvement in community sport has ended. While his primary sporting involvement was with the game of Table Tennis, Merv was also involved in sports administration for cricket. A life member of Table Tennis New Zealand, Merv was also a life member of the Empire Table Tennis Club in Petone and he served as the Executive Director of Table Tennis New Zealand for 11 years.


(Merv Allardyce served the Empire Table Tennis Club as a hard-working volunteer)


He is remembered as an outstanding volunteer after his many years as an administrator, coach and building project manager for the Empire Club. Merv continued to play table tennis in his later years, competing in the World Veteran Championships in Auckland in 2014 in the Over 80's, finishing as runner-up in the O80 Consolation doubles with Eddie Moore.

This Association joins New Zealand's sporting community in mourning the loss of Merv, but also celebrating his invaluable contribution as a sporting volunteer. The DominionPost has published an obituary on Merv’s service to sport, which you can read here.


Viewpoint: “Private Equity” Does Not Mean “Social Equity” ...

Post-COVID-19, news that private equity interests may be circling iconic New Zealand sports which are reported to be in financial difficulty, should be of interest to all community sport organisations and participants. While the governing documents of some sporting codes require all profits generated by their commercial activities to be used for the benefit of the amateur game, the question arises of what that residual sum might be, once the financial requirements (investment returns) of private equity stakeholders have been met.


(Private equity investors will likely be paid before community sport stakeholders)


It seems unlikely that private equity investment will represent or fund the interests of grass-roots sports, for the simple reason that community sport does not operate on a for-profit basis. In this respect, the monetisation of community-values for the benefit of private equity investors may well reduce the level of future financial benefit received by community sport organisations, compared to what they received in the past. You can read more about private equity’s involvement in sport, by clicking here.


From The Archives ...

EVENING STAR, ISSUE 17896, 16 FEBRUARY 1922

“A notable figure in the life of Wanganui for the last thirty years, Dr H. R. Hatherly, died last week, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. The deceased gentleman was at various times a leading spirit in Wanganui bowling, chess, and athletic circles, while he was president of the Male Choir for some years, and was always to be found advocating the advancement or music in all its branches. He was also a prominent Freemason, both in the Old Land and New Zealand. He leaves a family of five sons and one daughter.”


The New Zealand Draughts Association was initially formed in Wanganui, in April 1896. Dr Henry Reginald Hatherly, of St. Hill Street in Wanganui, was the first Chairman of the Association. The first Draughts Tournament in New Zealand is recorded as having been played in Dunedin in 1878, with the first Draughts Club (comprising “about thirty gentlemen”) formed two years earlier in the same city. The first Draughts Club in Wanganui was formed in June 1883 with John Ballance, later to become Premier of New Zealand in 1891, elected as its President. Hatherly was elected Vice-President in 1894, promoted the first national Draughts Tournament in 1896 and advocated that Wanganui join the New Zealand Association in 1902.


(Henry Hatherly was an active volunteer in Wanganui's sporting community)


Hatherly was born in Devonshire in southwest England and first qualified as a medical practitioner in Nottingham. A widower, he emigrated to New Zealand with his children and settled in Wanganui in 1892. In addition to his service to the game of Draughts and Chess, he was a Life Member of the Wanganui Jockey Club and St. John Ambulance Association; a Member of the New Zealand Institute, the Australasian Medical Congress, Wanganui Philosophical Society, Wanganui Chess Club, Gonville Bowling Club; Patron of the Wanganui Male Choir; President of the Wanganui Venetian Orchestra, Wanganui Public Museum, Victoria Swimming Club and the British Medical Association of New Zealand. He died on 10 February, 1922.


(The Waitaki Boys High School Draughts Team of 1912)


Based in Dunedin, the New Zealand Draughts Association (NZDA) appears to have been dissolved by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies in 1961 (and there is no registered organisation of that name today), however a group representing themselves as the current NZDA Association can be found at www.checkers.org.nz.


The Final Word ...

“We passionately believe in the value of community sport, and we will lead the charge to fight for its survival.”

(The Australian Sports Foundation - www.asf.org.au)



© New Zealand Amateur Sport Association Inc. (2669211), 2017

Registered Office, Level 1, 57 Willis Street, Wellington, 6011

P O Box 582, Wellington, 6140


If you no longer wish to receive these emails please click here to unsubscribe.