Getting fundraising across the finish line

Fundraising to pay back a loan for Timaru’s Phar Lap statue, erected at the race track named in honour of Australasia’s most famous horse, continues at a slow but steady pace, the trust behind it says.

The Phar Lap Charitable Trust member Noel Walker said while fundraising could be an ‘‘uphill slog’’ the trust was confident of raising the rest of the money required to cover the shortfall and was welcoming any fundraising ideas.

In February, the trust was granted a repayment extension of four years by the Timaru District Council for a loan which helped pay for the $500,000 statue unveiled in 2009.

The trust was originally loaned $80,000 for the project.

In February it had only $5000 left to pay.

Walker said the group ‘‘continued to chip away’’ at the money left to pay back.

He said the trust was confident of paying the rest of the loan back within the four year time frame.

A scheme, through the real estate agency he works for LJ Hooker, had also recently provided $350 towards the shortfall.

Anyone who referred a vendor to the agency would be given $150 to give to the trust and any property sold could earn the trust another $200.

Walker hoped the idea would help raise more money for the trust.

The sale of limited edition maquettes of Phar Lap was also ongoing, he said.

A number 18 limited-edition replica of Phar Lap was also for sale, he said.

‘‘If you go around the statue there are also plaques there for people who donated money for the statue and we can soon add more.’’

The trust, which has six members, was interested in hearing from anyone who may have ideas around fundraising, he said.

‘‘We’re very interested in fundraising ideas. ‘‘We’ll just keep ticking away.’’ Phar Lap was born at Seadown on October 4, 1926.