A COMMUNITY group is calling on the renowned generosity of Charlton residents past and present to help fund a vital piece of infrastructure.
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Charlton Park 2020 is seeking to raise a further $500,000 towards a new $4.2 million multi-purpose sports and recreation facility.
Not only are the Charlton Park facilities old, but they suffered damage in the floods of 2011 and require increasing maintenance.
The campaign, which was launched in 2013, has already seen $500,000 donated by the Charlton and District Community Bank, more than $150,000 from park users and more than $50,000 by service clubs.
Charlton Park 2020 fundraising chairman Peter Whykes said the committee had been working closely on the project with Buloke Shire and the state government.
He said that with the facility’s plans on the cusp of being finalised that now was the time to cast the net wide in the search for funding.
“There are many ex-residents who now live in Bendigo and we are reaching out to them to consider making a generous donation to the project,” he said.
“I led the last major campaign about 30 years ago when the Charlton community so generously donated to the Charlton Stadium project.
“We can see the value that has been gained for the young people, the school and for sports like badminton and basketball, which remain very strong parts of our sporting community.
“I also led the campaign in 2002 to raise money to establish the Community Bank. I urge the Charlton community and ex-residents to support this campaign generously.
“Thirty years ago the community raised $250,000 and then over $500,000 in 2002 and we feel this amount is achievable.”
The upgraded Charlton Park facility will be only the second substantial piece of sports and recreation infrastructure – after Charlton Stadium – built in the town in the last 50 years.
For more information, go to the Charlton 2020 page on Facebook, while donations can be made via the Australian Sports Foundation website.