Tongala Bowling Club was buzzing with levels of excitement usually reserved for premiership celebrations at the Finlay Rd venue.
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And while the new Campaspe season won’t start for another two months the club attracted a full house for Wednesday evening’s Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura sponsorship evening.
Following a similarly enthusiastic response to its March presentation from the various community clubs and organisations that benefited from its grants program, no-one should have been surprised by the wide smiles of the representatives who received cheques from board chair John Bentley.
In all, the community bank presented $38,843 to 11 groups, giant cheques filling the room as amounts of almost $7000, right down to $500, were received by club representatives.
Eight of the groups were from Tongala, one from Mathoura, another from Koyuga and the last took on a regional flavour through the first year of a three-year sponsorship for Goulburn Murray Cricket.
Tongala Bowling Club, Tongala Cricket Club, Tongala Development Group, Tongala Community Activity Centre, Tongala RSL, Tongala Tennis Club, Tongala Primary School, Tongala Recreation Reserve, Koyuga Incorporated (hall committee) and Mathoura Preschool were the other recipients.
Board chair John Bentley, who has been in the role for the past four years, was supported by branch manager Kevin Livingston, Hannah Tuxworth, Kerrie Cox, Paige Wage and Kate Nunn at the evening.
Mrs Nunn is retiring from her role and the new company secretary and marketing officer will be Sharon Felsbourg.
The branch also has a new face in the form of trainee Kyhia McLeod, who started on Monday.
Tongala Development Group’s Jason Kelley said the $4000 donated to his group would be used to offset the cost of insurance for major events such as Eats and Beats that were co-ordinated by the group.
He attended the event with another of the group’s executive, Amber Townsend, and said this type of support allowed the group to put on these free community events for families.
Mathoura Preschool’s Michelle O’Sullivan said the $3000 her group received would assist in outdoor play area renovations.
“The outdoor area hasn’t been touched since it was built in 2000. Massive plans for it, including a water play area, flowers and garden improvements,” she said.
Mitchell Kelsey from Tongala Rec Reserve said a major project for his group was to ensure the oval was not damaged by birds.
He said the $2338 contribution would assist the group in putting measures in place to ensure the bird problem was reduced to a minimum.
Tongala Lawn Tennis Club treasurer Jenny Reid said the $500 the club received would be put toward utility costs, and the Community Bank support meant it could continue to keep fees down for players.
Mrs Reid, who is also the treasurer of the Tongala RSL, accompanied president Dale Hateley in receiving $2900 for an upgrade of the organisation’s kitchen.
“This will allow us to put in a new stove and rangehood, which will help volunteers with catering on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day,” Mr Hateley said.
“It will also make a difference to those who hire the hall.”
Koyuga Incorporated president Ben Nexhip and vice president Jim Hodgson said the $5936 received by his group would ensure costs were kept to a minimum for community use of the facilities.
“We plan to replace our fridge and the television, which will allow us to have kids’ movie nights and different events,” Mr Nexhip said.
“This is a very important facility to the community.”
Tongala Primary School’s $1000 grant will be put towards the redevelopment of the Lone Pine area at the school, which will have an October 25 (at 10am) grand opening.
Michael Thompson, a key figure in the establishment, maintenance and upgrading of several Tongala war memorials, has also played a key role in the project.
Tongala Cricket Club received $6569 toward the upgrade of its kitchen, a new drinks fridge (to replace one that is 20 years old) and a new cash register. Other areas of the clubrooms will also be the focus of the improvement program.
Tongala Community Activity Centre received $5000, accepted by Karen Palmer, which will be used to continue the success of its Breakfast Club.
“We now have 16 children attending two days a week and this will assist us in delivering the program to more children,” Ms Palmer said.
GM Cricket president Jason Turner accepted a $5000 cheque with executive member Marcus Maher and his son Landyn.
The funds will go towards Country Week junior uniforms for girls and boys, along with the junior academy, which starts in September.
Tongala Bowling Club’s Wayne Cowley and Di Tinning accepted $2500, which they plan to use to continue a junior program that currently has 50 participants, as prize-money for the Community Bank tournament and for an upgrade of the ladies’ toilets.
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