Speed boat club makes recovery flood donation

Check mark: Heathcote community groups, including the local SES unit, shared in money raised at a recent speed boat racing event. Photo: STEVE WOMERSLEY

A FUNDRAISING effort by the Victorian Speed Boat Club saw six-thousand dollars presented to organisations in the Heathcote area at last Saturday’s flood recovery expo.

VSBC commodore Ray Palmer said the club wanted to contribute to the local community.

“Our caravan park at Lake Eppalock, which is the speed boat caravan park, was directly affected by the floods,” he said.

“We lost 22 caravans that went under water, at least 12 are beyond repair.”

Mr Palmer said the flood damage tore the caravans apart.

“It smashed the walls and it smashed the annexes,” he said. “We also lost two tractors, a fire truck, lots of things.

“We’ve got a shipping container that’s just above the high-water mark and we leave the door on it open, that’s the only thing that stopped it from floating away.

“For us it’s just caravans and holiday things, but we can imagine what that would be like if it were our homes.”

The money for the donation came from the proceeds of this year’s Eppalock Gold Cup, as well as a donation from the Community Bank, Heathcote & District.

Mr Palmer said the club always tried to pick an organisation to donate to when they had an event.

“We chose the CFA and the SES which are all involved in Heathcote community,” he said.

“We’re giving $2000 to the State Emergency Service, $2000 to the Heathcote community and then there’s $1000 to the CFA, we always donate to the CFA. The $1000 from the bank is yet to be allocated.”

Heathcote Community House executive officer Vicki Forde said the money would go to the Heathcote Safer Town Working Group.

“It will be used for flood education or something else flood related,” she said.

“We’ve invited the speed boat club onto the safer town group, they’ve got equipment and resources and this will help in future emergencies.”

Mr Palmer said the club already had a close working relationship with Mia Mia Fire Brigade and looked forward to building connections with other groups in the district.

“We’d also love people to come along to our events,” he said.