Groups steam ahead with grants
Community groups from throughout the region will continue to receive accounting advice and people will be able to learn even more about the history of traction engines and transport following a grants announcement.
As part of its latest round of donations, totalling $232,053, the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury awarded $20,000 each to Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury’s Community Accounts Service and the South Canterbury Traction Engine and Transport Museum.
While the money will go towards very different things, from operational costs to a new museum space, both groups said it was nice to be acknowledged for their hard work.
Accounts Service co-ordinator Louise Billinghurst said yesterday the group was ‘‘over the moon’’ to receive the grant.
With the service just over a year old, the funding means it can cover running costs, mainly for paying an accounts administrator, she said.
‘‘That money is specifically tagged for that service, and that service alone. It takes a bit of the pressure off,’’ Billinghurst said.
Focused on providing accounting advice for fellow not-for-profit organisations and charities, the service also reviews how charities manage their money, to make sure they are following the proper procedures and methods.
The lack of this information for South Canterbury groups was a key issue the Community Trust itself had identified the year before, and the reason it approached Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury about creating the service, Billinghurst said.
With both monthly and yearly customers, the majority of which return, and more coming, she believes ‘‘there’s a very big future for us [accounts service] in Timaru’’.
South Canterbury Traction Engine and Vintage Steam Club vice-president Gordon Handy said the transport museum will put the money towards a planned second museum space.
With a target of $520,000, Handy believes they were now about halfway there, thanks to the grant, money from the club, a recent horsepower rally, and funds from Alpine Energy.
‘‘It’s nice to know that the community really appreciate what we’re trying to achieve,’’ he said.
The new space, which will go in front of the museum, will become the new home for the trucks and tractors, while the traction and steam engines will get more room in the original part of the building.
South Canterbury car clubs were also approached to see if they wanted to come on board and show their vehicles, with a couple saying they were interested, Handy said.
‘‘We might have to revise some of those plans [for the space] if cars come in. Our goal is to have it up before next winter.’’
Other recipients include Learning for You South Canterbury with $5000, Citizens’ Advice Bureau $7500, Hearing Association South Canterbury $5000, and Epilepsy Association of New Zealand $5000. The volunteers at Project Peel Society will receive $7500 a year for the next three years for with weed control and predator monitoring plans, Twizel Promotions and Development Association with $1000 guarantee against loss, and South Canterbury Highland Pipe Band $7000 for uniforms and equipment.
The Temuka Returned Services Association will receive $2684 for new heat pumps, $4000 for Waimate Golf Club for chemical and fertiliser costs, and an undisclosed amount to the Waimate Aero Club, to reroof the club house and resurface a new parking area.