Community cheques from Cup horse win
Sporting groups and community programs in the Bunyip district will benefit from $10,000 awarded to Bunyip and District Community House.
The community house recently announced $10,000 it received from winning the Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep $50,000 prize would be divided between seven local groups.
At a presentation on Wednesday, the groups were announced as Bunyip CFA, Tonimbuk Hall, Bunyip Tennis Club, Bunyip Netball Club, Bunyip Soccer Club and Bunyip Hillview Lifestyle Program.
The community house kept $1000 to support its established programs and those it hopes to run in future.
Bunyip and District Community House president Charlie Helyar said they were inundated with requests for a share of the funds.
“A special thanks to Maddi Shaw for picking the winning number,” said Mr Helyar. “The application on our behalf was made by a representative of the football club and the funds were in fact won by them. In appreciation for our ongoing work for our community, they have provided us with $10,000 to be divided up amongst the community.”
The Bunyip Football Club will utilise the remaining $40,000 of the $50,000 prize as a base to undertake a much-needed upgrade of its 60-year-old changerooms.
The Bunyip CFA received the biggest share of the Bunyip and District Community House funds with $5000.
“The Bunyip CFA deserves our utmost respect and we hope to support them further with fundraising activities,” said Mr Helyar.
The Tonimbuk Hall, still providing relief for those affected by the Bunyip Fires, was granted $1000.
In appreciation of providing their facilities to support BlazeAid volunteers, Bunyip Tennis Club and Bunyip Netball Club each received $500.
Bunyip Soccer Club received $1000 to help purchase furniture for its new facility.
A grant of $1000 will enable the Bunyip Hillview Lifestyle Program to buy a printer and camera.
Mr Helyar said this not-for-profit organisation was reliant on donations and fundraising, and “we only wish we could give them more”.