Raffle to shore up Natimuk asset
Natimuk Agricultural and Pastoral Society hopes to raise between $15,000 and $30,000 from a raffle so it can buy a remnant parcel of rail easement on the edge of Natimuk Showground.
The society has decided to buy the land south of the reserve fenceline, unused for rail transport for decades, from Victrack to eliminate a need to pay rising rental fees.
Buying the land will mean the society will own all of the showground site and open opportunities for expansion.
Society secretary Judith Bysouth said the raffle, which offered 50 travel-voucher prizes for $5 a ticket, was also about generating support for industries hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Half of the easement land was bought in 2012 to accommodate tennis courts and we have been paying rent on the other, so we’ve decided to bite the bullet and raise money to buy the rest,” she said.
“Hopefully in buying these vouchers people will respond and also join us in providing some hope and inspiration for our accommodation and hospitality industries.”
There are 6000 tickets with a total prize pool valued at $45,000 and each prize valued between $600 and $900.
Officials will draw the raffle on December 18 and winners will have 18 months to regis- ter their voucher and then 18 months to use it.