Dancers delighted by pledge

PLEDGE: Dance student Sarrah Ryan, local Labor candidate Clare Scriven, Emily Izzard and her children Peter, Bethany, Tommy and Matthew at Maryke Dance Academy.
PLEDGE: Dance student Sarrah Ryan, local Labor candidate Clare Scriven, Emily Izzard and her children Peter, Bethany, Tommy and Matthew at Maryke Dance Academy.

SOUTH East families have welcomed news ballet and other forms of dance will be eligible for the popular sports voucher scheme if the Labor Government is returned at the March election.

The popular scheme, which offers families a $50 voucher towards the cost of each primary school student’s sports club fee or membership, will be extended for another four years, as well as being expanded to include ballet, hip hop and other forms of dance.

Local Labor candidate for the Legislative Council Clare Scriven said that more than 23pc of young girls participate in a form of dance, which is higher than the rates of football and soccer among boys.

“We all know how important it is for children to be involved in regular physical exercise,” she said.

“Extending this program and expanding it to include more forms of dance is an important way of supporting families with the cost of helping their children live active lifestyles.”

Mount Gambier resident Emily Izzard has four children attending Maryke Dance Academy and said she was delighted to learn of the election commitment.

“That’s $200 a year that we will not have to be paying from our pocket,” she said.

“That will be a big help in letting our kids develop further in areas they want to explore, which is tap dance and ballet for my kids – I’m really pleased.”

Maryke Dance Academy principal Maxine Lockwood also welcomes the announcement.

“I think it’s great news, it’s a good thing for children to be able to do different types of exercise, other than just sport,” she said.

“It’s great to see that dance is going to be recognised and families will be able to get a contribution towards their children’s dancing.”