When the Mudgee Lions Club set out to build a new facility at the Showground they added the admirable clause that they don’t divert any money from their community projects into it – so any direct funding they receive makes a significant difference.
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This makes reaching their goal dependent on grants. And obtaining $16,000 through the Stronger Communities Programme was welcome news.
Between their own funding, a donation from the Lions Foundation and the Stronger Communities grant, the local club have around $50,000 of their $80,000 target.
David Halpin of the Lions Club Mudgee said what they raise through their markets and the like, is for their other local initiatives.
“We’re looking at grants because the money we raise from the community we give back to the community,” he said. “We’re not using that money for this project, this is something that the Lions are doing with the assistance of Governments and other groups.”
Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, said he’s pleased that the local club has received $16,000 of the $150,000 available to distribute around the electorate during this round of the Stronger Communities Programme. Citing how much the Lions do for the community.
“We need to remember that we’ve got to help the people who help our community. The Lions do wonderful work at a local level, at a regional level, and also at an international level as well,” he said.
“They are part of the glue that helps hold our country communities together, so all levels of government need to be supporting them in their good work. Their motto is ‘we serve’ and they are there to serve and help the community, so anything that we can do to help them in that mission we should be doing it.
“The Lions have been here many years, giving up their time to help others, and I think this is going to be a wonderful new home for them.”
We’re looking at grants because the money we raise from the community we give back to the community.
- David Halpin, Lions Club Mudgee
However - in true Lions-style - once the new community shed is built it won’t just be used by the club, it will be available to many other community groups to hold meetings and events.
“There’s a lot of groups in the community that have nowhere to meet in a casual, social environment, and one of the main objectives was to give them a premises they can use,” Mr Halpin said.
Mr Gee added that locating the facility at the Showground is also a good move.
“I think it’s a really, really terrific project. We all know how much the Mudgee Showground is used by various community groups - it’s a true community hub,” he said.
“And I think we’ve seen the success of the facilities that have been built here in how well used they are and how valued they are by the community, a great example of that is the Cudgegong Cruisers’ shed. I think the use of this showground is only increasing.”
The Lions have been active in Mudgee for 56 years, more information on their Facebook page.
