Valla Lions will soon start building a permanent catering hut at Valla Reserve with help from the Commonwealth, the Australian Lions Foundation, and the many locals who support the club.
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Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker, along with the newly-minted Nationals candidate, Patrick Conaghan, were on site to confirm the $19,750 from the federal government for a project that immediate past president Bill Shepherd expects will cost $48,000.
In the club’s expression of interest for the grant, which is provided under the federal Building Stronger Communities Program, Mr Shepherd said the new hut would provide the club with an ability to raise funds for local community benefits with “minimal logistical effort.”
Expect plenty of enticing aromas from the facility from the middle of next year.
“The local community benefits greatly from the input of the local Lions Club and the catering shed will allow for ongoing fund raising above and beyond the many other local projects the Lions Club is involved with on a regular basis,” Mr Shepherd said.
Club savings plus $13,000 from the Australian Lions Foundation will make up most of the extra funds needed.
Mr Hartsuyker said he was delighted the club was successful in getting the grant, which was recognition for the great work Lions Clubs always do in supporting their local communities.
The outgoing member has been a regular visitor to the club’s biggest annual fundraising event, the Valla Fair, held on the first Sunday in January.
Next year, 2019 it will on Sunday, January 6 and Mr Hartsuyker urged all locals to put it in the diary.
The grant is recognition for the great work Lions Clubs always do in supporting their local communities
- Luke Hartsuyker, Member for Cowper (retiring)
“I understand signage is about to go up for those who need any reminding but obviously that won’t be a lot of people given this event has been occurring on the first Sunday in January for over 30 years,” Mr Hartsuyker said.
“For the coming fair Pauline Stephens and her band will be back, by popular acclaim, after their strong debut last year. There will be classic cars, a Rural Fire Services display, the kids’ favorite,Troppo Bob, and all the usual market stalls, water slides and rides that make this an immensely popular annual fair with locals, and summer visitors.
“The snow cones, a personal favorite, will be back.
“I urge everybody to get behind the fair again to support Lions, and through the club, the community.”
Valla Lions help locals in many ways and extra funds generated from the hut will contribute to some of its signature programs including school scholarships, school breakfasts, camps, and Youth of the Year.
