Rotarians ready for summer with new barbecue trailer

THE Ocean Grove Rotary Club has recently taken delivery of its new barbecue trailer.

The $30,000 trailer was made to the club’s specifications by Overlanda Caravans after some of the club’s members saw a similar one in action in Ararat.

It has two slide-out barbecues, a two-ring gas stove, a sink with hot water and plenty of storage for the paraphernalia required at barbecues.

The club pulled together a variety of funding sources to pay for the project, using $6,650 from the City of Greater Geelong through its Community Infrastructure Grants Fund, $5,000 from the federal government’s Stronger Communities Program, a $1,000 Rotary District 9780 100 Years of Rotary grant and $14,000 from some generous donors who were keen to secure a means for Rotary to raise funds well into the future.

This meant the club only had to find the balance of $3,350 from its own funds.

Ocean Grove Rotarians have been keen to fire up their latest acquisition and put it to work, but it took 18 months before the trailer was delivered due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The barbecue trailer was christened on November 6 at a social day for club members, and will be sizzling away at the Ocean Grove Rotary summer markets, which will be next held this Sunday, December 5 and will also be held on January 2, February 6, March 6, April 3 and April 18 (Easter Monday).

Funds raised at the market are donated back to the local community.

In 2020, the club raised $45,000, which was was donated to 13 local charities, six Australian charities and seven international charities.

The club says it is keen to use the barbecue trailer to support the local community and will be looking for ways to become involved in local events.

For more information on the Ocean Grove Rotary summer markets, including an application form for stallholders, head to rotaryoceangrove.org.au/summer-market.