SpringFest beneficiaries ready for Sunday

FIVE local groups are especially energised for SpringFest Market Sunday, having been chosen as the fundraiser’s community partners, benefiting from money raised.

Phoenix P-12 Community College, Ballarat Chinese Dragon Boat Club, along with Mount Egerton, Bungaree and Miners Rest primary schools will all receive funds generated from the annual Rotary Club of Ballarat event, this year presented by Optus.

Mount Egerton Primary School and Bungaree Primary School joined forces to be eligible for SpringFest funds, both very small schools. They’ve even created some scarecrows together, ready to welcome visitors to the Market Sunday.

Principal of Mount Egerton, Tegan Bell is excited to be a beneficiary, to get her school’s name out into the wider community and involve more people in her students’ education.

“We’re going to be putting the funds raised towards next year’s school camp, helping parents financially and subsidising some of the camp for them,” she said.

“We’ll have a little bit of money left over which we’ll use where we find a need next year.”

With nine students and six families in 2019, Ms Bell said it can be “really difficult” to fundraise for things the school needs.

“It feels like you’re constantly asking those same people for money, so to go outside of our small community, that’s going to really positively impact our school.

“Parents and staff have all volunteered their time to SpringFest, so it’s great for them to be involved in a school event as well, but in a larger setting,” Ms Bell said.

A SpringFest beneficiary in the social sporting space, Ballarat Chinese Dragon Boat Club will be able to buy more equipment.

President, coach and sweep, Georgia Parry said the club’s “really lucky” to be receiving part of money generated this year.

“We’re all really excited to be involved. We’ve done SpringFest for the last few years, but this year, with the opportunity to be a beneficiary, we’re really looking forward to it,” she said.

“We’re very lucky where we’re sitting with our equipment, but buying lighter paddles is something we need to do for training.”

A popular sport throughout Australia, there are three dragon boat clubs in Ballarat. BCDBC is looking to run some special programs to boost the activity’s local profile.

“It might be with upper primary school aged kids, trying to get some more school kids involved in dragon boating. It’s not a huge thing here, but it is everywhere else,” Ms Parry said.

Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club will have dragon boat ‘come and try’ sessions running throughout SpringFest Market Sunday.

“The social aspect is fantastic, but it’s catered for every ability, whether you’ve never been out on the water before or you’ve done a lot of rowing at school,” Ms Parry said.

“All the knowledge, you’ll get in the training sessions. It crosses ages from 10 years old, right through to however old, so it’s great to be a part of it.”

SpringFest is this Sunday, 24 November. Visit ballaratspringfest.com.au for more information.