A fundraising initiative, developed by Cairns City Council, is set to spread throughout Australia. The brainchild of Cairns Mayor, Councillor Tom Pyne, who is also President of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), this fundraising concept has the potential to raise $12 million. It will be used to assist our Australian Team during their preparation in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The idea is for Councils to encourage ratepayers to contribute 50 cents each year for the next three years or make a $1.50 ‘one off’ payment. In recognition of their support of the Team, a certificate, signed by each Council’s Mayor or President, will be given to all those ratepayers who donate.
Following endorsement of the initiative by LGAQ in June, most of Queensland’s 125 Councils are now committed to this fundraising concept. A significant number of Councils in Queensland, including Cairns City Council, have agreed to contribute in addition to donations provided by their ratepayers.
Taking this initiative nationwide was unanimously endorsed in principle at a recent Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Executive Meeting. To be formally ratified at the National General Assembly later this year, Councils throughout Australia will have the opportunity to participate in this fundraising scheme.
“It is up to each individual Council if they wish to be involved,” said Councillor John Campbell, President ALGA. “It is worthy of serious consideration by all Councils and their communities. A small contribution by each ratepayer will amount to many millions of dollars.
“To date, concentration has been on Sydney and the staging of the Games, without adequate attention to the Team. Local Government, being closest to the community, has identified that support for the Team has been missing.”
The scheme has the potential to eliminate the need for the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to go ‘cap in hand’ to private and public sector organisations pleading for financial support. It also enables people throughout Australia, no matter where they live, to have a direct association, and a sense of ownership of our Olympic Team.
Moreover, the obstacle of lack of funding will be removed from the minds of our sportspeople as they prepare to represent their country on home soil in Sydney. This is yet another example of the tenacity of Local Government to take up an initiative and run with it. It also demonstrates once again, as the sphere of government closest to the people, Councils are best placed to raise wide community support for important national initiatives.
Craig McLatchey, AOC Chief Executive is delighted with the assistance being provided by Councils and their communities. It is proposed that a special presentation by AOC, in recognition of Local Government’s contribution, will be made at the 4th National General Assembly to be staged in Canberra in November.
