Harcourt Football Netball Club is the recipient of this year’s $25,000 community grant from Insurer Vero (as part of its sponsorship of the NIBA Young Broker of the Year awards).
Funds will be allocated to repairs and replacements to the club’s facilities, including the installation of a new barbecue, fresh netting and safety poles to help maintain a welcoming and safe environment for players, families and spectators.
Harcourt FNC President Mark Dorian said that, as the biggest community group in town, the club realised that, on top of fundraising and helping in the initial stages after the fire, bringing everyone together was one of the most important things they could do.
“We started having barbecues every Thursday night to allow the community to come down and have a free dinner,” he said.
“Our barbecue has had a good workout over this year and is now on its last legs. We want to continue hosting the Thursday dinners, so this grant money will allow us to invest in some fantastic new portable barbecue facilities.”
Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters says the grant will help to continue the club’s role as a vital community space.
“From January’s harrowing bushfires and beyond, the club has solidified itself as the heartbeat of this town, opening its doors and uplifting the community in a time of need,” says Ms Chesters.
“It has become far more than a sporting club – it has become the centre of the community’s recovery effort, providing a safe haven and meeting space for our people.
“I have had many sausages cooked by the Harcourt Football Netball Club, so I know firsthand and how utilised their barbecue is,” she said.
“It’s hard to fundraise for equipment like this and Vero’s generous support will allow the club to refresh its facilities and ensure it can continue to be a thriving hub for the community.”
In partnership with the Young Broker of the Year Awards from the National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia (NIBA), Vero’s community grant recipient was selected by a cohort of this year’s state award winners.
Lisa Harrison, Chief Executive of Commercial Insurance at Vero, spoke to her experience in Harcourt and the important role the club has played in bringing the community together.
“Spending time in Harcourt, I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact the fires had on homes, businesses and much-loved community places, but I’ve also seen the resilience and strong community spirit that has carried people through,” says Ms Harrison.
“The club has been integral to that community spirit, and we’re proud to be giving back to a place that has already given so much to its community.
“Whether improving safety at games and training, or fixing a barbecue held together with tape and ties, we want to ensure locals keep walking through the Club gates every week.”