The Healthy Families over 40's football and netball matches will be hosted at Alexandra Oval, Ararat on Sunday, August 4.
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The brainchild of former Richmond and Ararat footballer Scott Turner, the football match will also be accompanied by a netball match.
For the participants, it's a chance to show they've still got it, for the spectators its brilliant entertainment and for the sons and daughters of players it could be a glimpse of their future.
The annual event is hosted as an avenue to funds for Grampians Community Health mental health and family violence programs.
"Last year's match was an overwhelming success, we easily found players for the two teams for the football match, attracted a crowd of over 500 people and raised money to bring the HALT mental health program to the region", said Scott Turner.
Meagan Shea was the driver behind the netball match planning said she was amazed at the interest and support for netball to be included.
"The inclusion of netball is a great addition and will only attract more people to the game, and sponsorship for the match is even bigger than last year with a few new major sponsors on board," said Shea.
Gates will open at 12pm on the day with Netball tipped to begin at 1pm and football at 2pm.
Grampians Community Health chief executive Greg Little said the games were lots of fun and a great social occasion and this year's event would have healthy families focus as well to promote healthy relationships.
"This highlights the need and importance of working together to prevent family violence in the local community," he said.
"The day is celebrating healthy families and relationships because positive, safe and respectful relationships are essential to health and well being of all of us and make for happier communities to live in."
Family Violence, including the impact on mental and physical health, is now recognised to be a serious and widespread problem in Australia, with enormous individual and community impacts and social costs.
Shea said the football and netball matches were a great way to highlight strong, healthy families and gender equality, displaying what positive relationships and good community involvement look like.
"Even though there's an important message attached the Healthy Families football and netball matches, the whole day is planned to be a fun day out for the whole family," she said.
To aid in the prevention and prevalence of family violence in the community, all proceeds from the match will go towards awareness-raising events and early intervention programs such as bystander training session hosted in venues across the region in the future.
For more details contact Rachel Whittaker at Grampians Community Health on 03 5358 7400.
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