South Gisborne Tennis Club (SGTC) is celebrating a $12,000 Macedon Ranges council grant they’ve secured to make their space more accessible.
The club is just one of 21 not-for-profit community groups that were recipients of Macedon Ranges council’s 2022 Community Funding Scheme grants, worth $175,000.
The scheme provides the groups funding for programs set to benefit residents of the Macedon Ranges.
SGTC all-abilities program coordinator Gail Scott was thrilled to hear the news, which would make the ground better at catering for its beloved disability program.
“[We’re] Absolutely [thankful],” Ms Scott said.
“The people who are passive observers of programs, which include carers, grandparents, people with prams,wheelchair participants, can now feel they’re as though they’re one in the community.
“They don’t have to sit in another area where there’s concrete… now they can just be where everyone else is and support their families, friends and colleagues.”
The funding is to replace the existing picnic setting with an all-accessible table and seats secured to a new concreted area, “therefore opening the area up to all”.
The club benefited from one of four streams of the council funding: community and cultural development projects, enhancing the effectiveness of local community groups, supporting local environmental priorities and enhancing community places and infrastructure.
Macedon Ranges mayor Jennifer Anderson said not-for-profit groups rely heavily on grants and fundraising from local community got projects and facility upgrades.
“The Community Funding Scheme helps to gill the gap and allow our local community groups to implement initiatives and complete projects they otherwise may not be able to,” Cr Anderson said.
“To assist further, this year we have allowed each organisation to apply for up to two grants. The uptake by our community groups this year has been really pleasing to see.”
Details: mrsc.vic.gov.au/grants
Elsie Lange
