South Australian Conservative Party Senate candidate Rikki Lambert says footy and netball club representatives met on the Eyre Peninsula recently about the future of their local clubs in light of population decline.
Across country SA, clubs merge or fold.
Some say these blows irreparably damage the town.
We country folk are told population decline is just a 'sign of the times' but that's rubbish.
South Australia's country population has declined far more than in other states.
Country SA is the ultimate underdog.
We've lost our democratic say with falling population.
The more metropolitan seats there are, the more that politics, infrastructure and other spending commitments focus there.
We've lacked that voice in the wilderness crying out for country common sense.
We have great communities, an easygoing, welcoming spirit and an enviable lifestyle.
How wonderful would it be if country people stunned the city pundits and voted strategically to halt the decline? I'd like to see that.
Rikki was asked on ABC Radio yesterday why country South Australia is so important to him.
