A cosy Croatian home in Canadian

A WARMER and welcoming Croatian Association of Ballarat clubhouse is in the works, with the support of some State funding.

Just over $80,000 has been granted to the Association from the Victorian Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund for upgrades to the social space in Canadian, which assistant secretary John Cimera said is open every Sunday for conversation and games of bocce.

“This funding enables us to keep this place going, to continue the culture, and to continue sharing it with other multicultural groups as well,” he said.

“We’ve insulated the walls already, we’re plastering, we’ve got a new kitchen going in so we can offer food, a false ceiling will be put in, and we’ve got three heating and cooling units on the way.

“Because most of the elderly people who established the club have either passed on or are unable to maintain it anymore, it’s very important to us that we carry the club on, and keep them warm and in a very comfortable environment.”

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said Ballarat’s diversity is one of its great strengths.

“The Croatian Association of Ballarat has been operating for a long time in Ballarat, and has about 66 members, but they’ve been here in a pretty cold tin shed, so I’m delighted to see works commencing to not only build the new kitchen, but in a Ballarat winter, to make sure it’s insulated,” she said.

“We’re incredibly proud of our multiculturalism, and that’s why this government continues to fund multicultural groups to make sure they stand strong, and stand together.”

Ballarat’s Croatian community dates to the mid-1950s, and Mr Cimera said members built the Association from the ground up, with their “own funds and free labour.”