The Kiama District Sports Association (KDSA) held their annual general meeting at the Kiama Leagues Club on the evening of 23 September.

The KDSA acts as a conduit between the Kiama Council and sporting associations on booking sporting fields and awarding grants to affiliated clubs.

With 40 years of operation, the association has built strong relationships with local clubs and Kiama Council to promote sporting competitions and meet the significant and growing demand of the local sporting community.

Retiring Mayor of Kiama and KDSA Patron, Neil Reilly, attended and congratulated the newly elected life Members; Craig Scott and Paul Condon. 

“Craig and Paul [have] been long time servants of sport in the Kiama LGA and the Kiama District Sports Association,” Secretary John Dawson said on the night.

Craig has been a stalwart supporter of the Kiama Little Athletics Club and has spent countless hours tending to his beloved athletics track at the Kiama Sports Complex. He is the current serving President of the Kiama Little Athletics Club, and has previously served as the President for the state division of the organisation. 

Paul has been a member of the Gerringong sporting community since birth. He has been a player, coach and office bearer at Gerringong Rugby League Club for Juniors and Seniors and the Gerringong Touch Association. Paul is the go-to for anything sport related in Gerringong.

“Craig and Paul have served the association with distinction over the many years of their involvement and were worthy nominees as the second and third Life Members after Col Rathbone was awarded Life Membership four years ago,” Dawson continued.

The sporting community in Kiama relies heavily on the support of Council grants that the KDSA award to clubs. Council increased their annual grant from $30,000 to $60,000 and over the past seven financial years more than $270,000 in funding has been awarded to affiliated clubs of the association. 

This funding has gone on to purchase replacement football goalposts, refurbish canteens including the purchase of new refrigerators, point of sale systems and replacement turf wicket covers and defibrillators on the grounds. 

The association has commented on their eagerness to work with newly elected councillors and Mayor this term to see the completion of the long-awaited Strategic Plan for Outdoor Space and Recreation and the Masterplan for the Kiama District Sports Complex. 

The executive team were announced as; President Craig Scott, Vice President Ross Thomas, Secretary John Dawson, Treasurer Gail Gaynor and Trust Fund Coordinator Craig Scott.