|
The official website of
Developing amateur boxing in |
|
|
Affiliated with Boxing Australia, ACTSPORT, and the ACT Olympic Committee |
|
|
|
Canberra Boxing Bulletin Number 4 - March 1999 Contents AMA seeks boxing ban in Canberra Inaugural meeting of ACT Boxing Incentives International events MP Lobbying Kickboxing nights April Fools Fights Boxing SA AMA seeks boxing ban in Canberra Even though the press coverage has died down, the Australian Medical Association is still trying to destroy boxing, here in the ACT as elsewhere. The AMA has been lobbying the ACT Minister for Health very strongly, and the Federal Minister for Sport is being pressured by the Federal Health Minister. The current AMA strategy is to kill off the sport by imposing minimum age-limits that will dry up our intake of young boxers. Their publicly stated longer-term aim is to have both amateur and professional boxing made illegal by each state and territory parliament. To survive, we need to develop a strong, positive image in the general community as well as in the corridors of political power. Following the re-launch of the AMA's campaign to ban boxing last November, a meeting of Canberra boxing supporters in December decided to start an amateur boxing association in Canberra, to defend the sport against political attacks. Some of those people have since developed briefing materials for ACT Government officials and members of parliament, and we have had the first of several meetings with Government Ministers. However we have not yet formally set up an organisation, and this is to be our next move. Inaugural meeting of ACT Boxing On Monday 8 March at 7pm, we will bring the ACT Amateur Boxing Association into formal existence at a meeting in the Police Station at the Tuggeranong town centre, corner Anketell St & Soward Way. If you care about the future of amateur boxing, please attend this meeting and bring any other friends & supporters of boxing. This will be a working meeting – not a lecture. We will divide into several small working groups to generate ideas. The following are suggested topics to be covered by the working groups:
The working groups will present a short report to the full meeting, and then we will elect a committee. Nominations will be accepted on the night for the executive positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 3 committee members.Nominations will be accepted on the night for the executive positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 3 committee members. How we fit in with the NSWABA At present, the ACT is part of the NSW Amateur Boxing Association. After the ACT body is formed, Canberra boxers will initially continue to be registered with NSWABA and compete in NSWABA tournaments as at present. The longer-term aim is to develop enough boxers, officials and organisational strength to become fully self-governing. We could then affiliate directly with the national body, and conduct our own program of tournaments in Canberra, including an annual Territory Title – in the same way that the Northern Territory and each state does. That won’t happen this year, but it will happen next year if we work hard to make it so. Clarification on under-14 boxers There has been confusion about under-14 boxers since the New South Wales government ban this year. Be advised that NSWABA will still register under-14 boxers, but will not allow them to box competitively in New South Wales because of that state’s restrictions. However, there is no restriction on them boxing interstate. Hence, registered NSWABA boxers under 14 can legally compete at tournaments here in Canberra (there are two tournaments scheduled this year, on Sat 1 May & Sat 18 Sept). It is likely that there would be problems if significant numbers of under-14 boxers "descended" on Canberra in an attempt to circumvent the NSW government ban. However, under-14 boxers from the NSW Southern Districts zone should feel entitled to box here as in the past. NSWABA bulletin 139 (Jan ’99) outlined an incentive scheme for competitors matched for bouts at Souths Juniors, Coogee Randwick RSL, Merrylands Bowling Club and Bankstown Trotting Club. The scheme awards points to boxers (more for wins, less for losses) and also deducts points for failure to show up. Boxers amassing a certain level of points receive a cash incentive, as do their trainers. Upcoming international events: 5-10 March: Adajania Cup, New Delhi, India 1-7 April: 23rd Kings Cup, Bangkok, Thailand 24-30 April: Oceania championships, Papeete, Tahiti 22-28 May: Arafura Games, Darwin A locally-produced paper outlining the facts on boxing safety was recently produced by Marc Tawton, Mark Porter and Tony Whelan, on behalf of the ACT boxing community. A copy has been provided to the ACT Minister for Sport, the ACT Health Minister, and the Federal Minister for Sport. A follow-up meeting has occurred with the ACT Sports Minister and meetings are being arranged with other Ministers and MPs over the next few weeks. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that ministers and members of parliament have access to the facts and also to let MPs know that we are prepared to defend our sport. Plane Max Promotions present full contact kickboxing at the Australian Institute of Sport in Bruce, on Saturday 13 March. Doors open 6pm, commences 6.30pm. $10 adult, $7 conc’n. WKA sanctioned. Details: phone 6251 5771. Further promotions are planned for 22 May, 24 July and 25 Sept. On Thursday 1st April 1999, April Fools Day, at the University of Canberra Refectory. Start at 7pm, doors open 6pm, finish around 10pm. Hosting a wide range of styles: ring karate, boxing, capoeira, kick boxing, kendo, wrestling, tae kwon do plus boxing with the really big gloves. This will be linked in with other spectator entertainment and 2 raffles. Tickets $10, from Uni. of Canb. Union or Planet Max stores. As reported in a previous edition, amateur boxing in South Australia has now united in a new body known as Boxing SA. The new committee includes members of the former SA League, and also includes aboriginal liaison and women’s liaison officers. Their first tournament for the year will be on 13 March at Port Adelaide and will include a lightwelterweight Oceania Games challenge between Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Casey Johns and SA Association champion David Ross.
|
|
|
