Rachuig is still a great event for those who participate, unfortunately the cost of travel, accommodation, excess baggage etc have made it unaffordable for some of our best bowlers to chase rankings points and attend the Nationals. We have battled the dollar here since 1979 and now it costs our players $1700 plus airfare to attend. This is because the cost of lineage, medals, etc is now met by each player and yes there used to be up to 10 airfares given by the national body to NT, NQ, WA and a few less to the other states and it was easier for our bowlers to compete.
It is not the event so much that needs the overhaul it is the costs. I know some of Australia's top bowlers would come back to Rachuig if the costs were not so much - time away from work, money spent when it is needed elsewhere perhaps to pay a mortgage is hitting our sport big time.
Unfortunately TBA is not in a position to provide all of these things plus airfares etc anymore and until sponsorship for these costs can be accessed by someone in the organisation then those who can afford it, or fundraise for it or receive personal sponsorship to go will be the ones lining up in our teams. Our state is probably in a better position than most because we have athletes sponsored by the NTIS, we still receive a small amount of money for travel and we have a group of fundraisers who week in week out work with the team members to help. Volunteers all of them and our sports biggest asset. We need to look at costs to play not the actual event which is still an amazing event to play. And yes internal state politics doesn't help, everyone needs to be on the same page.
My opinion
June Voukolos
