Much needed roof repairs for local car club

One of Bundaberg’s best-known car clubs will this week be able to complete long-awaited upgrades to their hall with the help of a Stronger Communities grant from the Federal Government.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said Rum City Rods and Customs had been awarded $5775 to replace the roof on their Quay Street hall.

“These much needed repairs will provide the club’s 70 members with a central meeting point that is safe and dry. The hall can now also be utilised by other community groups,” Mr Pitt said.

“I congratulate Rum City Rods and Customs on their successful application and for contributing a further $5775 of their own funds.”

Rum City Rods and Customs President Roger Keegan said the Club had purchased the hall in 2013.

“We carried out several repairs to make the hall suitable after the 2013 floods, but unfortunately our budget didn’t extend far enough to replace the roof,” Mr Keegan said.

“The roof was in a bad state of repair. We are grateful these funds will help us replace it to enable our clubhouse to be used seven days a week in any weather.”

The Club was formed around 1994 and was originally named the Rum City Rodders. Rum City Rods and Customs’ main objective is to promote and encourage community interest in the sport of constructing, showing and driving street legal rods. The Club holds monthly Friday Night Coffee Runs and Sunday Brunch Runs. Two major events promoted by the Club are the Swap Meet in March and the Bargara Beach Rod Run and AutoMazing Car Show in October.  The club donates proceeds from the latter event to various local charities.

Through the Stronger Communities Program, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5000 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 are selected by an independent panel of locals, before being sent to the Department for final approval. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP