Community
23 October, 2024
Fundraiser launched for optimistic committee
A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been launched in a bid to bring sport and community use back to a country oval this November – 25 years after it was last used.
The South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve Committee has launched the ‘South Purrumbete Reserve Rejuvenation’ campaign via the Chuffed platform.
The committee is aiming to bring in much-needed funds to get the disused ground and facilities into safe working order, while offering donors unique perks such as a new take on football jumpers of the old South Purrumbete Football Club.
After years of neglect and on the brink of being sold, in 2015 locals banded together and reformed the voluntary committee, with their ultimate goal being to revive the Recreation Reserve as a vibrant and inclusive community hub with improved facilities for year-round use and events.
Committee president Becky McCann said the reserve represents the last remaining community asset in the small dairy community after the school, hall and churches closed and were sold in the space of a decade.
“Having community sport return in the form of cricket this November is a massive milestone,” she said.
“While we’ve undertaken mountains of work in recent years to get to this point, we still aren’t connected to power and water, and the infrastructure definitely needs an upgrade.
“When the Pomborneit Cricket Club, who were the last users of the Reserve in 2000/01, contacted us before Easter 2024 needing another oval for the upcoming season, it was the opportunity - and motivator - the committee needed to work towards our ultimate goal.”
Ms McCann said the committee was in a difficult position.
The committee is not eligible for pitch and oval upgrades as it is not a sporting organisation, but funding is required for upgrades to facilitate the much-needed upgrades and open opportunities for the committee to reach a level of financial stability.
“With our can-do attitude, over the years we’ve garnered support for projects via incredibly generous local businesses, plus the Corangamite Shire Council small grants program has been vital,” Ms McCann said.
“The Cobden and District Community Bank have kindly given us $6000 to go towards toilet and facility upgrades.
“However, the work needed is big and costly, tens of thousands of dollars’ worth.
“More support is critical to get the reserve across the line for community events and sport to return, while ensuring we remain financially viable.”
The reserve has a rich history, most famously being the home of the South Purrumbete Football Club until the Panthers, or the ‘Beters, folded in 1999.
“The ‘Beters represent bush footy and rural community at its finest, and the fact that they folded in recent memory puts the Reserve Committee in the fortunate position of basically having a football club without actually having a football club,” Ms McCann said.
“We celebrate this via our social media, and it meant it was a no brainer to offer perks to those who donate to our crowdfunding campaign that honour the football club, including reviving and updating the unique black and green South Purrumbete footy jumpers, and tickets to the ‘Beters Ball, a special event that will celebrate everything South Purrumbete to be held in February 2025.
“There are sponsorship packages on offer for businesses too.
“You don’t have to look far to find someone that has a memory of the South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve or were involved in the Footy Club. Reviving the spiritual home of the ‘Beters is so much more than rejuvenating a physical asset - it’s about revitalising a sense of place, identity and reconnecting community.
“We’re beyond proud to see community use return to the reserve and to offer punters and businesses an opportunity to be part of this exciting next chapter of the South Purrumbete story.”
For more information and to donate go to chuffed.org/project/south-purrumbete-reserve-community-rejuvenation, follow ‘South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve’ on Facebook and Instagram, or contact Becky McCann on 0409 842 471 or southpurrumbete@gmail.com.
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