MADDELIN MCCOSKER
The number of bowlers at this year’s Multi Disability Championship were down due to a lack of funding from key organisations.
Although the event secured a grant from Brisbane City Council earlier this year, sponsors Deaf Sports & Recreation, Life Stream, Sporting Wheelies and Queensland Blind Bowlers Association pulled funding.
Chairman and Board of Managers at Chermside Bowls Club, Mark Lee, said numbers have suffered as a result of the funding cuts.
“The number of participants is up and down…some of the players are missing this year that were here last year, and that’s mainly because they have cut a lot of funding,” Mr Lee said.
This year saw around 60 Queensland and inter-state bowlers compete for the championship, but organisers say they were expecting more.
Event workers Neville Galbraith and Russ Chorlton, workers at the four day event, said they would love to see the Brisbane City Council and Queensland Government give more funding.
“The damn government should be putting more funding towards it… we’re down on numbers this year because they cut out some of the funding…”
Mr Lee said although he is worried about the event’s future, he is confident that Brisbane City Council will continue their funding.
“I believe they’ll come back on board,” Mr Lee said.