Community funding reaches $6.9 million

The latest round of Drouin and District Community Financial Services (Bendigo community bank) sponsorships has brought its contributions to local organisations to $6.9 million.

Fourteen clubs, groups and events received more than $25,000 in the mid-year allocations.

The amount is part of $264,536 returned to the district through community investments, grants and dividends in the past financial year and almost $1,165,000 over the past three years.

Presentations of the cheques to the most recent recipients at a function at the Drouin Golf Club also included one to Sonshine Toy Library that received funding in the May round of grants but was unable to be represented at presentations at that time.

Tom Guilford accepted the cheque for the toy library with the money to be used for a number of improvements including a new computer. Recipients of the latest grants were:Warragul Bowling Club: sponsorship of the chairman's Invitation Day tournament that raises money for maintenance of the club's property.

Drouin Football Club: funding of weekly awards for under 16 and under 18 players.

Frankies community kitchen: production of weekly meals distributed through food relief centres including Baw Baw Food Relief, Longwarry

Lions Club, St Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army.

Herd coworking: established in Warragul the funding helps provide a facility that encourages the Gippsland business community to be creative, embrace technology, think big and colloborate for impact.

Drouin Dragons Soccer Club: sponsorship of the under 17 team.

Warragul Football Netball Club: sponsorship for the 2022 season.

Drouin Hawks Netball Club: sponsorship for the 2022 season.

Hallora Marathon: towards this year's event in September that promotes community engagement and physical activity and raises funds for the Peter Mac Cancer Centre.

West Gippsland Hockey Association: assist with the cost of fitting out a new shed.

Drouin Secondary College: purchase of a defibrillator.

Poowong Garden Club: sponsorship of 50th birthday celebrations next September.

Team Elvis: sponsorship in support of participation in 2022 Variety Bash that raises funds for children that are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.

West Gippsland Orchid Club: sponsorship of the 2022 spring orchid show.

Warragul Business Group: gold sponsorship of this year's Snowfest held last month.

Team Elvis Crew members for this year’s variety Bash fund-raiser for children that are ill, disadvantaged or have special needs, David Hore and Warren Miller, accept Drouin and District Financial Services sponsorship towards their participation from board director Helen Taylor. WARRAGUL AND DROUIN GAZETTE August 2 2022 Page 25

Accepting sponsorship for the 2022 season from Drouin and District community Bendigo Bank was Warragul Football Netball Club’s Troy Notman (left) with director of Drouin and District Community Financial Services Matthew Williamson.

Representing Warragul Business Group Felicity Wilson thanked Drouin and district Community Bendigo Bank manager Rob Hutchison after receiving sponsorship for this year’s Snowfest.

Drouin Football Club representatives Jess Flemming (centre) and Kelly Bethune that received sponsorship for weekly awards for junior players with Drouin and district Community Financial Services board member Vanessa Marsh (left) at the cheque presentation function.

Jason Beers of Drouin Dragons Soccer Club (right) after receiving sponsorship of the club’s under 17 team from Drouin and district Community Bendigo Bank board member Matthew Williamson.

West Gippsland Hockey Association’s Steve Austen (right) accepted funding from Drouin and District Community Bendigo Bank staff member Bruce Sorrell to help fit out an equipment shed.

Drouin Hawks Netball Club’s Ali McArthur thanks Drouin and District Community Financial Services director Matthew Williamson for sponsorship of the club for the current season.