03 Jul 2018 Border Mail, Albury-Wodonga (General News) by Ellen Ebsary WODONGA Water Polo Clubs bid to boost its junior numbers has been assisted by a squirt of cash from the Victorian government. The club has received $2240 in the latest round of VicHealths active club grants. President Natalie ONeill said the money would be used to run a second winter season of Flippa Ball, a non-contact version of the sport for under 12s. Earlier in the year we also won a grant through Sport and Recreation Victoria for skills development were using that to improve training for our committee, as were quite new and the club is in a real growing phase, she said. For the last five years we havent had any junior players, and when I took over the presidency last year I really wanted to get an under 14s team going. It is hard to do if you dont have anyone connecting to the sport through that junior level. So last year we ran a winter season of Flippa Ball and it was really good, we had about 20 kids take part. Were continuously trying to develop our juniors and keep their skills going over winter. ONeill said the winter program would return on July 21 and run throughout term three. YMCA were really supportive of us last season, so well keep working with the new service providers Aligned Leisure and Im sure they will be supportive as well, she said. The summer Flippa Ball program has been going for a really long time, and its always pretty-well attended, but compared to Auskick and that sort of thing the numbers are small. Swimmings a skill for life and we start off in the shallow end so everyone is comfortable its a really fun and skills-based program. Northern Victoria MLC Jaclyn Symes said the funding would also enable more opportunities for women and girls to get active. We want to support locals to get active and embrace a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age, gender or ability, she said. Wodonga Bowling Club will use its grant to introduce Bowls Victorias Girls on the Green program and Wangaratta Pony Club will run a social event for junior participants to build their skills and confidence.