By Dongyun Kwon
A round of Capital Development Grants has been approved by the Yarra Ranges Council unanimously during the council meeting on 10 October.
The grants will help local communities to carry out projects that will improve and benefit not only sport and recreation clubs in the Yarra Ranges but also the wider community through improvements to buildings, outdoor spaces and outdoor facilities as long as the area is owned or maintained by the council.
Cr Tim Heenan pointed out the missed opportunities for local sports clubs during the pandemic.
“During the pandemic, lots of our community clubs, in particular sporting clubs, absolutely ended up with zero opportunity to raise any sponsorship,” he said.
“The pandemic hit every single club in Yarra Ranges really badly and It’s taken them a couple of years to come out of it and the game back on their field now.”
Cr Fiona McAllister added the grant would be helpful to the local communities to recover the damage affected by natural disasters.
“I just want to point out Yarra Glen Cricket Club who are at the top of the risk, unfortunately painted by flooding again on the weekend,” Cr McAllister said.
“They are now more than ever to be much appreciated by the council’s support.”
The grant is helpful and essential for the local communities, especially for the clubs that are self-managed and self-funded.
“The grant from the council is marvelous, we are run by volunteers, so we accept any aid from the council or anyone with open arms,” Healesville Bowling Club Treasurer Leonie Fitzpatrick said.
The club received the Capital Development Grant for the first time in 2022.
It was used to restore the club room and build a new pavilion.
Healesville Bowling Club has applied for the grant again this year to change their old scoreboard and get ambulatory aides to make the club a safer and easily accessible place for everyone.
“We allocated the cost of hockey stick handles which the bowlers use to aid to get on and off the green so they can enjoy bowling for longer and easier,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
“Our old school boards were very ancient and probably a trip hazard, so we’ve allocated the funds to order new scoreboards that are a lot safer, they can go into the ground and are easier for our members to move.”
The following clubs will be the recipients of the grants:
$24,000 to the Yarra Glen Cricket Club
$24,000 to the Mt Evelyn Cricket Club
$24,000 to the Wandin Community Hub
$20,000 to the Yarra Glen and District Pony Club Inc
$14,000 to the Lilydale Bowling Club Incorporated
$12,000 to the Mount Evelyn Tennis Club
$10,535 to the Upper Yarra Pony Club Inc
$10,000 to the Lilydale BMX Club Inc
$8,500 to the Lilydale Tennis Club
$8,050 to the Wesburn Junior Football Club
$5,275.50 to the Monbulk Netball Club
$4,600 to the Lilydale & District Model Flying Association Inc.
$3,910 to the Hoddles Creek Cricket Club Inc.
$2,285 to the Healesville Bowling Club
$1,805 to Mooroolbark & District Miniature Railway & Steam Club Inc
$888.50 to the Selby Tennis Club
