The club is one of 19 recipients who received funding in the latest round of the program and will now be able to send three teams to the event, the Under 14 Girls, Under 16 Girls, and Under 16 Boys.
The Tri State Junior Water Polo tournament will take place on the 18 - 19 February and is the largest regional junior water polo tournament in Victoria. Teams from more than 25 clubs will be competing, many travelling from regional Victoria, regional New South Wales, Tasmania, and Melbourne.
Shannon Clark, President of the Pool Pirates Water Polo Club Inc., said:
'The Tri State tournament has always been a fabulous experience for our kids. It involves teams in a round robin fixture which ensures plenty of games over the two days. Geelong has a fantastic pool, and the tournament is always run exceptionally well.
'The funds from Inland Rail will cover the team entry fees which provides a huge saving to families who already have to pay for fuel and accommodation to attend.
'We'd like to thank Inland Rail for their support of the Pool Pirates. The club has been a fixture in the region since 1989. More than 30 summers on, over 500 amazing people have played with the Pool Pirates, strong friendships have been formed and countless great times have been enjoyed'.
Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Director of Health, Safety and Environment, said:
'We are proud to give back to the communities that are home to Inland Rail. The work these organisations do is instrumental to the wellbeing of regional communities.
'I encourage other non-profit groups to lodge their applications for the next round of funding'.
The Inland Rail Community Sponsorships and Donations program offers funding between $1,000 - $4,000 for organisations in eligible regional areas. The funding supports organisations that contribute to local and regional prosperity, wellbeing, and sustainability.
The latest round of funding takes overall support for local communities and associations along the Inland Rail alignment to over $1 million since the program launched in 2019.
Applications for the next round of funding close on 30 April 2023.
We encourage you to check your funding eligibility and apply. Please include as much information as you can to tell the story of what you want to achieve and how it will benefit your community.
