Source : ABC NEWS
River Allum will be a long way from home when he runs out to play in Kuala Lumpur later this year.
The 13-year-old from Geraldton, 420 kilometres north of Perth, has been honing his skills on the soccer field, while his parents have been sacrificing to save the $3,630 needed for travel costs, tournament fees and gear.
His mother Rachell Allum said she had already spent about $1,700 on her son’s soccer-related costs this year.
She said the rising cost of living was making it harder to afford.
Ms Allum says she and her husband are sacrificing and saving. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)
Australian government data showed 6.3 per cent of children surveyed could not afford sport or the associated travel costs as recently as last year.
Ms Allum said her family was budgeting strictly for the Kuala Lumpur trip as River was not eligible for any grants she could find.
She said living in regional WA had also multiplied the cost of participating in sport over the years, as River often travelled to Perth for competitions such as Country Week.
“We have to miss out on a few things ourselves, but we wouldn’t deny him that chance as much as we possibly could,”
Ms Allum said.
River says he is grateful for his parents’ ongoing support. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)
“We’ve got to find accommodation for ourselves, let alone petrol … the petrol prices are ridiculous.”
But she said the costs were worth it to see River excel at a sport he loved.
“Every annual fee is expensive, and he’s growing — you know, new boots, new uniforms, new everything — but we are very, very proud of River,” Ms Allum said.
Understanding the sacrifice
The high-school student said he was aware of the financial strain.
“I do feel a bit bad about all the costs,” River said.
River has been playing soccer since he was six. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)
He said sport helped him work through emotions such as sadness and anger.
“I can just go to soccer and just wipe my head away from it, and it makes me feel a lot happier again,” River said.
The teenager said everyone should have access to sport as an outlet, regardless of their financial position.
It is a perspective shared by Federation University sport science professor Rochelle Eime.
She has conducted a national study in conjunction with the Australian Sports Commission.
Yet to be publicly released, the study found fees were a growing barrier to club sport participation.
Rochelle Eime has conducted a study on the cost of sport across Australia. (Supplied: Rochelle Eime)
“Cost has always been an issue, but more of an issue now with the rising cost of living,” Professor Eime said.
“Participation is much lower in areas of lower socio-economic status.“
Critical opportunity missed
Professor Eime said lower participation had huge implications for physical fitness, mental health and social connection, especially for young people.
“Without those opportunities to play sport, they’re missing out on a lot of life skills,” she said.
Professor Eime said though sport was often the “social fabric” in regional communities, participants could incur more costs than their metro peers, something the Ballarat woman was familiar with.
Professor Eime says sport is important for social connection in small towns. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville )
She said her 18-year-old son, Jay, was travelling to China to compete in a tennis tournament, but even local travel took a toll.
“He’s commuting an hour-and-a-half to training several times a week … now that he can drive, that saves me,” Professor Eime said.
Along with the price of fuel, she pointed to other travel fees including overnight accommodation to join metro competitions.
Professor Eime said geographical barriers and cost burdens could limit the sporting potential of some talented regional players.
