Golf club chips in for the Bellarine

PORTARLINGTON Golf Club is celebrating a record year of community contribution, supporting local causes to the tune of more than $200,000 through donations, fundraising partnerships and in-kind support.

Over the past financial year, the club has both directly donated and helped raise funds for a wide range of initiatives across the Bellarine’s north, backing everything from grassroots charities and sporting clubs to major regional events.

“We’ve done little things, like donate the use and staffing of our buses to the Port primary school, right up to the big things, like being the key backer of the Portarlington Mussel Festival that brings thousands of visitors to town each January,” chief executive Michael Phillips said.

“We like to feel we’re engaged with our community, and I hope that comes across, not only in these finances, but in terms of our approachability as a supporter or host of so many events.”

About $100,000 has been donated directly to the community, while the golf club has helped local groups and charities raise or save a further $100,000, by offering its facilities, waiving fees or providing the platform for fundraising events and opportunities.

“Many know of the popularity of our member draws and spinning wheel giveaways on Friday nights, but on that same night each week, we’ve managed to help our community raffle partners raise what we think is an extraordinary $34,995,” Phillips said.

This community raffle, launched almost 12 months ago, enables local groups to raise funds by selling tickets to a raffle comprised of prizes supplied by the golf club.

“It’s groups like the CFA, SES, Food Assist 3223 and so many more that the club – along with the generosity of our members and guests – has really been able to provide for that we hadn’t previously been able to,” Phillips said.

The club has recently finalised more than $14,000 in grants to a variety of community projects, including support for the township’s fledgling women’s football teams, through its Community Contribution Fund, while it continues to support large-scale charity golf days, like the Longest Day in Golf, which raised $15,000 for the Cancer Council.

“We’re rapt to be heavily involved with some of these bigger projects, but we’re equally happy to contribute to a whole series of other clubs and events, such as the Celtic Festival, the North Bellarine Film Festival and the Bellarine Agricultural Show,” Phillips said.

“And we’re delighted, with the support of Stockdale & Leggo, to be a key player in the only catwalk fashion show in Portarlington that not only highlights our local fashion houses, but has been a valuable contributor towards its goal of fighting the scourge of domestic violence against women.”