So is there any light at the end of the tunnel or are we destined to fund the sport ourselves?
What is required? Corporate involvement? Government Funding?
Already pulled my head in LeighboNZ - It is a good discussion!
Point I am trying to make is that everyone is looking for someone else to pay for them, be it corporate sponsors/grants/pokies, social players, whatever. If we all individually paid for what the sport is costing at that point in time, then junior and social subs would be lower, and competitive grades would be totally unaffordable. Result is no pathways. Clubs therefore need to employ an all-in bucket approach to try and balance out a fair and reasonable subscription for all members. The ones that pay too much complain. They are usually senior social grades that no longer see the benefit in supporting 'the family' forgetting they may have enjoyed being on the other side of the ledger in their younger years.
What is the answer? No idea! I'm picking you don't either.