Eliza Berlage, Naracoorte Community News

Border Districts’ club presidents have implored the State Government to “stop punishing” their community with restrictions.

Despite lockdowns in SA and Victoria ending last week, the restrictions for the cross-border community remained unchanged – a 40-kilometre bubble, weekly testing, and no sport or socialisation.

Border Districts Football Club president Linda Skinner said the situation had been “disappointing” and “mentally draining”.

“You’re working hard to put a footy club out there and you get hamstrung by this (border bubble) line,” Ms Skinner said. “90 per cent of us are farmers anyway and they’re treating us like we’re from Melbourne.”

She said the current restrictions, which barred players from training, were “detrimental” to the morale of both the club and broader community.

“12 of the A-grade team actually live in Victoria,” Ms Skinner said. “That’s just A-grade, not our juniors and reserves”¦so there could be 25 or more players affected.”

Ms Skinner said while the restrictions last year were a struggle, it was easier to cope with because everyone was in the same boat.

“It’s different this year because we’ve gotten back into playing and everybody is enthused,” she said. “Now just to shut it down and not let the boys play because of an imaginary line – they just don’t get it.

“We live where we live and this is our community.”

The club, formed in 1951 when Frances and Minimay Football Clubs merged, is unique in having grounds in Frances and Goroke.

However, Goroke was not included in the new reduced border bubble.

Ms Skinner said a lot of the life members lived along the border on the Victorian side.

“Our (football club at Frances) is 500 metres from the border (line)”¦” she said. “It’s really getting to people.

“Sport is a huge part of our community and we’re all doing the right thing.”

In addition to a loss of gate takings, the border issue had also resulted in the club having to cancel major fundraising and social events such as reunions.

Ms Skinner said while cross-border residents wanted the bubble reinstated to 70 kilometres, it would be better if the bubble was scrapped altogether.

“If people travel beyond the 40 kilometres, such as Kaniva going to play at Pimpinio, potentially they then can’t go back to over the border for work or supplies,” she said.

Border Districts Netball Club president Tammy said between 20 to 30 per cent of the club’s members and players have been unable to play or attend games.

“They haven’t done anything wrong,” she said. “They haven’t left the border bubble, people over 12 are getting tested every seven days yet they are still being disadvantaged as individuals, let alone the club being disadvantaged.”

Ms Pretlove said the club was considering forfeiting one of their three senior netball sides every week to keep the other teams going.

“Obviously the teams we are thinking of forfeiting are not in finals contention but it doesn’t matter – it’s a morale thing,” she said.

“We will make sure those girls that can play will play, but it doesn’t help those girls that are stuck in Victoria.”

“The bubble is absolutely ridiculous,” Ms Pretlove said. “You may as well put the Berlin Wall up at the border.

Ms Pretlove said she was particularly concerned about the effect of the continued division on the mental health of young people.

“At our last junior training a few weeks ago some of our junior girls were in tears,” she said. “It’s affecting our kids.

“It’s absolutely cruel.”

Ms Pretlove is one of a number of Victorians residing near the border who have vowed not to enter South Australia until the weekly testing requirement is abolished.

“I hope that it’s gone before the finals because we are looking at having a few teams in the finals,” she said. “And I don’t want to be sitting at home watching updates on Facebook about how my girls are going.”

Ms Pretlove said she was worried about the impact of the restrictions on the future of the club.

“With Victoria recommencing sport matches (last weekend), why wouldn’t players consider moving to a club there,” she said.

Her message to the State Government was to “stop punishing border communities, stop punishing our kids”¦and let us get on with life.

“We have been punished enough.”

Cross-Border Call Out has created a survey for people to share their experiences about the impact of border restrictions on local sport.

The survey can be accessed at crossbordercallout.com/forms/border-closures-impact-on-local-sporting-communities.

This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News, 4 August 2021.