A WARMER and welcoming Croatian Association of Ballarat clubhouse is in the works, with the support of some State funding.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis funding enables us to keep this place going, to continue the culture, and to continue sharing it with other multicultural groups as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve insulated the walls already, we\u2019re plastering, we\u2019ve got a new kitchen going in so we can offer food, a false ceiling will be put in, and we\u2019ve got three heating and cooling units on the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause most of the elderly people who established the club have either passed on or are unable to maintain it anymore, it\u2019s very important to us that we carry the club on, and keep them warm and in a very comfortable environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said Ballarat\u2019s diversity is one of its great strengths.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Croatian Association of Ballarat has been operating for a long time in Ballarat, and has about 66 members, but they\u2019ve been here in a pretty cold tin shed, so I\u2019m delighted to see works commencing to not only build the new kitchen, but in a Ballarat winter, to make sure it\u2019s insulated,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re incredibly proud of our multiculturalism, and that\u2019s why this government continues to fund multicultural groups to make sure they stand strong, and stand together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Croatian community dates to the mid-1950s, and Mr Cimera said members built the Association from the ground up, with their \u201cown funds and free labour.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n