Push for solar power at Old Church

A QUARRY Hill community space is running a month-long fundraising campaign to make the switch to solar power.

The Old Church on the Hill is aiming to raise $15,000 by the end of June to install rooftop solar panels to power the entire site which includes three halls and a community garden.

Currently only one hall is run on solar power, but Old Church co-founder Rose Vincent said she believed there was enough community support to complete the job.

“I knew that as a community, there would be a lot of enthusiasm to get behind something like this,” she said.

“We’ve fundraised before for the Our Loo Just Won’t Do campaign and raised $10,000 in a day.

“So, we know that we can do it, we know that there’s a lot of love for the Old Church and we thought let’s try a campaign for solar.”

The initiative is being supported by the Bendigo Sustainability Group and Community Power Hub Loddon Mallee.

The hub has so far provided money for a communications intern and a fundraising dinner to support the campaign.

The solar panels would power the Old Church’s kitchen which regularly caters for large events like feasting dinners, but Ms Vincent said the energy switch could also benefit individuals as cost of living pressures intensify.

“People who are wanting to save on heating will come up here if the feast space is heated,” she said. “Why sit at home?

“The Old Church is a bit of a backup and a support to the wider community.”