Denmark’s initiatives earns praise in Statewide program

Denmark Cricket Club have been rewarded for their off-field improvements, setting up important health and wellbeing initiatives for their members and supporters. The club received third place in the Statewide Alcohol Think Again senior club program for their efforts to develop a healthy club culture. Initiatives have included a safe transport policy, creating new income streams to reduce the reliance on alcohol sales and providing access to counselling on mental health and illegal drug use in a non-threatening environment. The safe transport policy is vital for the club given Denmark is without a taxi service and the mental health and illegal drug use counselling is available to players of varying ages. The award comes with $1000 cash, an Alcohol Think Again marquee and a sunscreen pack. Denmark player and club treasurer Damian Schwarzbach said the club had taken positive steps to improve their culture. “We aim to make the club inclusive and accepting of each individual,” he said. “Providing a healthy environment along with providing low alcohol and non-alcohol options and not relying on alcohol as a sole funding source is demonstrating good role modelling. “We have 14-year-olds through to over-50-year-olds playing, ranging from Walpole to Rocky Gully and Albany to Denmark. “The club aims to provide the opportunity for our young players to become the best cricketers and people they can be.” The Alcohol Think Again senior club program is managed by the WACA, in conjunction with Healthway and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s good sports program which been established to help senior cricket clubs across WA to develop a healthy club culture. The program focuses on the responsible behaviour and service of alcohol and providing incentives to clubs to improve the health and wellbeing of their members and supporters. It helps redefine a healthy cricket culture and foster a whole of cricket approach to club health and sustainability. Denmark had their struggles on-field this season, not winning a game in A-grade, but Schwarzbach said this program would help them succeed in the future. “Even with the struggles of our first team, the club was still able to field two teams every week which is really positive,” he said. “The good sports program fits into the club meeting those goals and aspirations. “This focus on development will hopefully also lead to success (on the field) in the future.”