By Deanne Jeffers
UNABLE to hire out facilities or accommodate community groups that call Mooroopna and M.G. O’Brien Halls home, relief is being provided to help the committee get back on its feet.
Both halls on McLennan Street and were badly damaged by last October’s floods. An issue with GST registration meant the management committee could not apply for many of the relief grants being offered in flood-impacted areas.
Greater Shepparton Foundation (GSF) and Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project have partnered to support the committee to resurface floorboards and bring them back to a usable condition with a grant of $22,000, or $11,000 each, which was raised through community fundraisers.
“Local money investing back into local assets that locals can then hire and use,” said GSF executive officer, Amanda McCulloch.
Amy Robinson, executive officer of Lighthouse Project says it has distributed $141,000 throughout the community, while GSF has injected $70,000 into the flood recovery effort.
“It’s just amazing that the people of Shepparton have donated into The Lighthouse and Greater Shepparton Foundation to help organisations such as ours, little committees, to recover from the floods,” said Christine Parnell, Mooroopna and M.G. O’Brien Halls committee of management treasurer.
$22,000 does not cover all the necessary works but it is a significant and welcome contribution.
Mrs Parnell also said she was blown away by a $300 grant provided by Goulburn Valley Water, saying that the extra, surprise relief filled the hall’s committee with hope.
