Nursery backs local veterans

AVALON Nursery’s staff love to get into the Christmas spirit of giving.

In previous years they’ve run giveaways, but in 2021, the Nursery’s David Winters decided to harness the power of their community of customers to put back into a Ballarat organisation.

“I knew Les Finch and the volunteers at the Ballarat Veterans Assistance Centre, and I said to Joanna and the team, let’s give back to them; a cause where the money would be better off,” Mr Winters said.

Over a week this December, the Nursery fundraised through their sales, allocating $1 from each customer transaction to the Ballarat Veterans Assistance Centre.

They raised $1875 for the BVAC and have upped the donation to a flat $2000.

“The veterans need the support and the backing to help people with their mental health, or to come back into the community as well. They do a great job.

“At Christmas time especially, there are some people that need that support more. Some don’t work due to mental health, but they’ve all fought and served for our country, so there’s no better cause to support.

“Veterans can walk in and have a cup of tea at our café, and you wouldn’t know what they’ve been through in their life, or who they are. We just want to make more people aware of veterans, past and present, and their experiences.”

BVAC volunteer and veteran Les Finch said the Centre is grateful to have the help of such a “community-minded” person.

“David has been a great supporter of the veteran community in Ballarat and Warrnambool,” he said.

“This donation, and the generosity of the man, is incredible. It will make such a difference to us at the Centre and make life a lot easier, as we haven’t been able to do our normal fundraisers during COVID.”