More than $30,000 granted to 13 community groups
More than $30,000 was presented to 13 community groups at the quarterly cheque presentation for Drouin and District Community Bank Branch.
The presentation was held at the Drouin Golf and Country Club to celebrate successful community investment recipients. In total, $30,010 was distributed.
The recipients included Warragul Camera Club, Warragul Bonsai Group, Drouin Ficifolia Festival, Committee for Drouin, Drouin Picnic Racing Club, Longwarry Cricket Club, Lardner and District Primary School, Vietnam Veterans of Australia – Eastern Group, Drouin RSL sub-branch, Longwarry Heritage Truck Show, Modella Community Christmas, Treasure Your Chest Chix and Drouin Football Club on behalf of the Drouin Recreation Reserve.
Warragul Camera Club will use the grant for its 2020 National Photographic Exhibition of which the bank is a gold level sponsor. The exhibition, to be held in May, gives photographers the opportunity to have their work competitively assessed whilst also promoting photography as a pastime to the wider community.
Warragul Bonsai Group’s grant was sponsorship for its recent public exhibition of work as part of Seniors Week. Open to the public, it included fine examples of the artform.
Drouin Ficifolia Festival accepted the grant as sponsorship for the 2020 festival to be held in February. Now in its 32nd year, the bank are long-time supporters of this free community event. The theme for 2020 will be sporting greats, both past and present.
The Committee for Drouin gained funds to sponsor the Drouin Skatepark Competition. Now in its fourth year, the competition attracts local daredevils to show off their skills on scooters, BMX freestyle bicycles and skateboards.
Drouin Picnic Racing Club gained a grant to help stage its recent Boxing Day race meet. A long-time local tradition, the funds assisted with the cost of family and children’s activities.
The bank renewed its partnership with Longwarry Cricket Club for the 2019/20 season. It sponsors the club who made huge strides last year.
Lardner and District Primary School gained a grant to help build an outdoor learning centre in front of the junior classroom. It will serve as an interactive space for literacy and numeracy.
Vietnam Veterans of Australia – Eastern Group gained support for its annual weekend at Glen Cromie. The group aims to provide opportunities for Vietnam Veterans and their families to have low cost, caring and supportive activities in order to engage outside of their normal routines and activities.
The Drouin RSL sub-branch gained funds to help create a memorial garden at Drouin Cemetery to mark the subbranch’s 100th anniversary. The garden will feature a lone pine, flagpole, plaques, metal poppy wreath and bench seats as well as roses including the Gallipoli and RSL rose.
Since 2013, the community bank have held the naming rights to the oval at the Drouin Recreation Reserve. The funds will see the Drouin Community Oval name continue in 2020.
The Longwarry Heritage Truck Show accepted the grant as sponsorship for the 2020 event in February. The show is a major fundraiser for the Longwarry Football Club and has raised more than $80,000 in the past seven years.
The small rural town of Modella came together to celebrate Christmas after gaining a grant to support its 2019 event. The theme was red and white candy stripe to celebrate Christmas.
Treasure Your Chest Chix gained a grant to sponsor its 2020 Girls Day Out Event at Lardner Park. The event raises funds for breast cancer research and educates women. It is organised by 15 women and the bank will provide bronze level sponsorship for the first time.
The Drouin and District Community Bank Branch distributed $316,396.60 in the 2018/19 financial year via grants and community investments. This saw the five financial year total hit $1.265 million.
So far this financial year, the branch has distributed $45,396.20.