'Ban smoking at sport'

Debate over smoking has taken another turn, with a call for it to be banned at all local sporting venues.

Simon Keemink began his campaign out of concern for the health of his two young daughters.

Mr Keemink, who has played soccer with Rovers for the past 12 years, said he was dismayed when an official of the club lit up a cigar alongside his wife Joanne and daughters Sydney, 3, and Finlay, six months, who were watching him play soccer.

“When Joanne expressed her concern she was told they could move, but it was raining and the covered veranda at the Rovers club is quite small,” said Mr Keemink.

“Sport is supposed to be a healthy pastime, but there is nothing healthy about small children being forcibly exposed to cigar or cigarette smoke.”

Frustrated that the issue had been raised before with no action taken, he has launched his own campaign to have smoking banned at all sporting venues throughout the City of Greater Geraldton.

Mr Keemink is encouraged by the fact that some venues are already smoke-free.

“Netball is already there, smoking stops at the gate, and it’s the same at the hockey stadium,” he said.

“They are setting a healthy example to the community, I’m calling on the City and all other sporting clubs to follow their example.”

Rovers president John Bleach confirmed he had smoked a cigar and overheard Mrs Keemink complain to her children, but said he was near the fence and away from people at the time.

“I certainly didn’t tell her to move,” he said.

“I occasionally like a cigar, but I don’t smoke a lot. I always go up along the fence away from people.”

Mr Bleach said if the kids were under the veranda they shouldn’t have been there, because it was a liquor licensed area and no children were allowed.

He said he had since received a phone call from a council officer asking if the club had any signage in place to designate smoking and non-smoking areas.

“We don’t, but we will put these signs up and comply with council regulations,” he said.

Mr Bleach said he was disappointed Mr Keemink raised his concerns with the council before discussing them with the club.

“I understand passive smoking is a concern for people, but I have got to look after everybody’s concerns,” he said.

“Everybody has rights — whether smoker or non-smoker. But it seems smokers haven’t got any rights in this world.”

In a statement issued on Friday, the City’s manager environmental health and sustainability, Mark Chadwick, said the City would “consider any practical options supported by the Cancer Council and from public feedback that is in the best interests of the whole community that reduces tobacco smoke harm”.

Deputy mayor Neil McIlwaine said he believed club-initiated, rather than council-initiated smoke-free zones were more effective.

GARY WARNER and GAVIN BOX