Fundraising flows in Linton and beyond

COMMUNITY members met at the Linton Takeaway last week for the handover of four fundraising cheques.

Part of the get together saw Linton Primary School students meet with Bill Kerr from Cottage by the Sea’s to donate just under $450 to the non-government funded Queenscliff charity that provides coastal holiday camps to children.

Meanwhile Cristine Gall and Amy McDonald from Linton Takeaway presented three cheques for just over $1000 to the Deafness Foundation, Linton and District Men’s Shed, and Cottage by the Sea.

The money was raised at their recent 1960s night held at the Linton Bowling Club.

Linton Primary grade 6 pupil Aimee said the sale of hot Milo at school helped to generate their donation for Cottage by the Sea where they recently went on camp.

“The Milos were 50 cents each, and we also did a raffle,” she said. “Cottage by the Sea is a very good place to stay.”

Mr Kerr said the Cottage has been at Queenscliff for 130 years looking after children from diverse backgrounds, whether they’ve experienced illness, trauma, or are from a low-socioeconomic area.

“The Cottage started in England from the idea of a children’s book where kids were raising money or doing good deeds to help other kids that were less-fortunate,” he said.

“The kids from Linton Primary School have come to the Cottage and have come back to school to raise money to help other kids come to the Cottage.

“We host anywhere between 1200 and 1400 kids each year, but we’re looking to increase that in the next two years due to mental health and the impacts of COVID isolation.”

Tegan Rowland accepted funds on behalf of the Deafness Foundation which supports her family. Her sons are profoundly and partially deaf.

“This spreads awareness of the Deafness Foundation. Equality is one of their biggest goals,” she said.

“Funds raised help families get together to do activities so people in the deaf community don’t feel alone and know that there are other families out there in similar situations.

“The Foundation keeps the deaf community together, encourages friendships, and helps deaf people realise that this isn’t a disability. We’re thankful that the Linton Takeaway has stepped up.”

Men’s Shed manager Terry Gosling said members of the shed are grateful, as they are developing their purpose-built new facility on a tight budget.

“We’re hard up for money really. Our $60,000-worth of State grant money is long gone, so any money that we can get will help towards getting the Shed up and running,” he said.

“This will help us get some more gravel for the driveway. People have asked us if we’d like them to buy equipment for us, but at this stage, we appreciate any money because we don’t know what we’re going to need as time goes on.

“There’s a positive vibe all around. People aren’t just sitting in their homes, they’re thinking outside the box and chipping in to help the community and its mental health. The Shed will be a place for everybody.”