Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club gets boost to facilities

An upgrade to facilities at the Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club thanks to a Stronger Communities Programme grant from the Federal Government will widen the use of the clubhouse as a community facility.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated the club which has been awarded $5455 to upgrade its kitchen facilities and provide a shaded outdoor area.

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

“The improved function hire ability will provide increased revenue to support the club’s lifesaving activities such as the purchase of emergency first aid and rescue equipment,” Mr Pitt said.

 The upgrade to the kitchen would see new shelving installed and sheeting on the walls, and the shaded outdoor area would provide a place for Nippers to conduct off-beach activities, and members and spectators to watch events.

 Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club director of finance Andrew Eason said the club was a hub for the local and surrounding communities with the facilities being accessed extensively for functions, education programs and social gatherings.

 “The clubhouse is also used three days per week to provide a social outing for Indigenous elders, including a meal prepared in our kitchen, and the upgrade to the kitchen will allow this to continue,” he said.

 The shaded outdoor area is also a priority for club as it will host the 2017 Junior State Championships, which will bring an influx of people to the region.

 “The new shaded area will protect our nippers from the sun during training and provide an additional space from which to watch surf events.

 “It will also meet the basic needs of our volunteers and the community will enable us to attract more members which will continue to make our beaches safer and contribute to the well-being of the entire community,” Mr Eason said.

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. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP