Community support grants for clubs

SOUTH Bendigo Football Netball Club’s planned expansion of its junior programs, in particular girls football – has been boosted, thanks to a $10,000 grant from popular on-demand delivery platform Menulog.

The Bloods were last week announced as one of the recipients of the most recent round of grants under the app-based food, grocery, and retail delivery platform’s Community Support Act.

Two other Bendigo clubs also received funding – Spring Gully Soccer Club and Bendigo United Cricket Club.

The grassroots initiative is Menulog’s way of investing in community groups, charities and clubs across regional Victoria and New South Wales, with grants ranging between $2500 and $50,000.

An appreciative South Bendigo Football Netball Club general manager Rick Townsend said the funding would target much-needed infrastructure.

“We are so blessed to have everything we have got here at Harry Trott Oval, but we are a growing club,” he said.

“We’ve got 22 junior netball and 12 junior football teams, and we want to add to that.

“But we need more storage space; we need more space in our changerooms to cater for growth; so the money will be put to use on infrastructure.”

Mr Townsend identified girls’ under-15 and under-18 football teams as a priority for the Bloods, with a longer-term aim being a senior team.

In Bendigo to personally deliver the funding news, Menulog managing director Morten Belling said the grants aimed to bring communities together by helping sporting clubs, community groups and charities access funding needed to create positive changes.

He praised the inclusive environment and level of volunteerism at South Bendigo.

“I am lucky to have three daughters myself who play sport, so, I know how hard it is for clubs like South Bendigo, where volunteering is important, to get funding,” Mr Belling said.

“To be able to contribute to clubs like this one is very important to Menulog.

“Given we have been around for nearly two decades now as an Australian-born business – we turn 20-years-old next year – we have very deep roots in regional Australia and are committed to helping regional people.

 

“We understand the impact local sport clubs have on communities. Theyʼre not only a place for connection, but often the heart and spirit of their communities.ˮ

Walking through the doors at Harry Trott Oval for the first time last week, Mr Belling was in awe of the sense of community.

“The reason why we do this is community, and the minute I stepped into the clubrooms here, I was heartened by the number of volunteers and athletes,” he said.

“It’s the feeling you want to get when you are contributing support to a club and I really felt that here at South Bendigo. It was a big turnout.

“Hearing how many teams they have got, football through to netball – it’s an impressive club.”

Three years on from the Bloods’ full-time move to Harry Trott Oval, Mr Townsend said the club was fully reaping the rewards.

“The transition from here to the QEO has been better than we actually thought,” he said.

“We have really grown as a club and gotten closer as a club with the footballers and netballers all together, and our juniors are flying.

“The main reason is the connection with the schools around us.

“We are close to being one of the biggest junior clubs in Bendigo now, which is a huge change from when we were (based) at the QEO.

“It’s been a great outcome for us.”

Mr Townsend thanked Menulog for its generosity and support.

“Partnering with a company like Menulog makes life so easy for us,” he said.

“We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with them.”

The Menulog grant announcement contributed to a massive week for the Bloods, with the senior football and A-grade netball teams winning their respective elimination finals on Sunday.

A-reserve and B-reserve netball also advanced to the second week of finals with elimination final victories, while the reserves and under-18 footballers and B-grade netballers will put the double chance to use after coming up short in their qualifying finals.