Burgowan Bowls Club bowled over with funding for new kitchen

An important social hub in Torbanlea will be able to carry out long-awaited upgrades with the help of a Stronger Communities Programme grant from the Federal Government.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated Burgowan Bowls Club which has been awarded $14,414 to upgrade its kitchen facilities.

“This will make the kitchen facilities much more usable for the club members as well as visiting players and community members,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Stronger Communities Programme has been a boost for community groups and organisations like Burgowan Bowls Club that would otherwise struggle to generate the funding for this type of work to be done.”

The upgrade will replace existing bench tops and cupboard doors with stainless steel – to comply with food preparation regulatory requirements – as well as new floor coverings and external window shutters to reduce heat in the kitchen.

Burgowan Bowls Club Secretary Roger Goodwin said the volunteer-run bowls club has been a part of the Torbanlea community since 1924. He added that “without the assistance of programs such as the Stronger Communities Grants it would be very difficult to fund these improvements.”

“As a rural club we provide one of the few avenues for community members to have a social outlet which provides both a way to interact with other community members and physical exercise, it also helps to improve the social cohesion in our community,” Mr Goodwin said.

“These improvements will not only bring our kitchen up to the required standards but improve the safety and comfort for our volunteers when engaged in food preparation for both our members and visiting bowlers and community guests.

Mr Goodwin said these facilities are used on club fundraising days, as well as for bowls day functions.

“These are very important as we don’t have any poker machines and solely rely on our volunteer staff and fundraising for our existence.”

Through the Stronger Communities Programme, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Each Federal Electorate is allocated $150,000 a year over two years. Applications for Round Two have now closed. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP