A sausage sizzle and Santa at Gordon playground fundraiser

THE next event designed to raise money for a new playground at the Gordon Public Park takes place on Sunday 14 December.

The Gordon Public Park Christmas Party will be held from 2pm to 5pm at the park in the form of a sausage sizzle.

Those attending are encouraged to take a picnic rug and settle in for a visit by Santa on board the local fire truck at 4pm.

They can also take their own snacks and drinks, but otherwise sausages will be $3 and drinks $2. Ballarat’s own Hippie Whippy soft serve and gelati van will also be present.

The event is free and will be open to everyone.

Youngsters cool off during last year’s party.

Park committee vice-president Charlee Murphy said a similar event was held in the lead-up to Christmas last year as local efforts to fund a new playground gathered pace.

She said the committee had secured some funding from the Bendigo Bank, but not enough to actually pay for an entirely new playground.

That money would be put towards some swing sets while wider fundraising efforts continued, Ms Murphy said.

The park already features a skate park and a three-by-three-metre basketball practice court and ring, which were installed by the Moorabool Shire Council in 2022 as part of stage one of an upgrade project.

Stage two was completed last year with an aim of improving vehicle and pedestrian management throughout the park, along with landscaping.

Works included concrete footpaths, a new gravel car park, bike racks and park furniture.

But a new playground remains high on the committee’s priority list.

“There’s one there but it’s about 50 years old,” Ms Murphy said.

Ms Murphy said the previous committee had secured funding for the skate facility and the overall park revamp.

Participants inspect the local CFA truck at the 2024 party.

“But none of that funding involved a new playground so that’s what we’re after now,” she said.

Ms Murphy said the committee had been applying for funding through different programs and, while it had been successful with a contribution from the Bendigo Bank, more remained to be done.

The park is in Main Street.