A LOCAL car dealership is supporting Santa Claus to make some special deliveries this Christmas.<\/p>\n
The team at Ballarat Mazda has provided a red BT-50 dual cab pickup truck for the next six weeks and\u00a0has had it\u00a0decorated with festive and snowy signage\u00a0for use\u00a0as Ballarat Base Hospital volunteer Dave Keene\u2019s sleigh.<\/p>\n
Santa Dave is now entering his 13th year of collecting\u00a0up\u00a0<\/span>gifts donated by local businesses and handing them out to patients of all ages at Grampians Health.<\/p>\n \u201cTo have Mazda jump on board as a sponsor and do what they do is humbling, and it makes things so much easier for me as my vehicle is getting old,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’ve gone to a lot of trouble to not only help me, but kids and adults in the hospital, because everyone gets a present.<\/p>\n \u201cThe tray will soon be full of toys, and I\u2019ve got well over 40 people and businesses sponsoring me, donating presents and gift cards.\u201d<\/p>\n Ballarat Mazda sales manager Nathan Tinker said\u00a0the\u00a0gesture was about giving back to the community.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a great cause to get behind, with kids in need at Christmas time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s being donated for the Christmas period, and I couldn’t think of a better way than dressing up a BT-50 so Santa has his sleigh and can give presents to the people that need them.<\/p>\n \u201cLocal signwriter The Sign Mill has done the design work, we’ve given it a quick clean up, and made sure there’s enough fuel for Santa’s rounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Tinker said Ballarat Mazda is also making an ongoing commitment to boosting local health care.<\/p>\n \u201cFor every new Mazda purchased by Grampians Health Ballarat staff, we will donate $500 to their hospital in the home program for children, Grampians Health at Home Paediatric Program, to help children be cared for in their home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re also including a $500 accessory voucher and 10 per cent off scheduled servicing for all staff purchases.\u201d<\/p>\n Grampians Health Ballarat head of fundraising and engagement Sarah Masters said she gets to see the community’s most generous side in her role.<\/p>\n \u201cOn behalf of everyone at Grampians Health Ballarat, we\u2019d like to welcome Ballarat Mazda as our newest community supporter and also acknowledge the generosity of Santa Dave and all the local businesses who help spread cheer in the hospital during the festive season,” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A LOCAL car dealership is supporting Santa Claus to make some special deliveries this Christmas. The team at Ballarat Mazda has provided a red BT-50 dual cab pickup truck for the next six weeks and\u00a0has had it\u00a0decorated with festive and snowy signage\u00a0for use\u00a0as Ballarat Base Hospital volunteer Dave Keene\u2019s sleigh. Santa Dave is now entering […]<\/p>\n