Rotarians call for money spinner’s return

A BACCHUS Marsh group has called for the return of a convenient and effective device that has helped raise money for about 30 community organisations.

The Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh used its money spinner as one way to support local services.

However, the device was stolen from The Village Bacchus Marsh shopping centre on Saturday 7 March at about 9.45pm.

Club secretary Russell Dodemaide said the spinner was purely a fundraising device.

He said the spinner was an accessible way for residents to donate.

“It is consistent,” Mr Dodemaide said. “People put money in there. There’s money in there every week.”

However, the club secretary said the device was emptied weekly.

“It’s not ever going to be a gold mine for anybody, and it’s just something that shouldn’t happen,” he said.

The club had had the money spinner for about eight years.

Mr Dodemaide said the device complemented the many other approaches Rotary had to support community services.

In the past year, such organisations and programs that had benefited from money spinner donations included Bacchus Marsh’s SES and CFA, neighbourhood houses, women’s and men’s pub health clinics, Soul Food, and the Western Emergency Relief Network.

Mr Dodemaide said Rotary assisted a range of services.

“We will mostly just donate money towards something that needs a bit of support,” he said.

“We do things like disaster response with the northern New South Wales floods. We’d sent money there.”

Mr Dodemaide said the club had appreciated the centre allowing them to place the money spinner there.

Victoria Police reported that it’s believed an unknown man and woman stole the donation box from inside the Main Street centre, and that an investigation was underway.

To provide information that could assist in the money spinner’s return, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at crimestoppersvic.com.au.