That includes a $100,000 donation to the Dingee Bush Nursing Centre to upgrade a vehicle vital to health services in the farming region.

Centre manager Kylie Smith welcomed the donation from Catalyst Metals and Hancock Prospecting, which have been sinking exploration drills in an area near Dingee, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill and Boort.

"(It will) enhance our capacity to deliver services around the district," she said.

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Miners have also donated $8,000 to Ambulance Victoria's Pyramid Hill and District Community Emergency Response team.

The group of volunteers provides first aid to people during local emergencies in a more remote region where paramedics can struggle to arrive within their 15 minute target.

The explorers' donation will help with equipment upgrades and a publicly accessible defibrillator in Pyramid Hill.

Catalyst technical director Bruce Kay said both mining companies believed it was important to build strong relationships with communities, even if they were still in the exploration stage at its central Victorian sites.

"These donations recognise the valuable community services that (these organisations provide), and will further enhance the health and welfare of these communities," he said.

He said those relationships were as important as those with landowners, who must give explorers permission to take drill rigs onto their properties.

Catalyst and Hancock's subsidiary Gold Exploration Victoria are among a host of companies drilling north of Bendigo in the hope of striking the kind of gold deposits found during 19^th century gold rushes.

Most of that area has not been thoroughly explored because rocks that might hint at underground riches were covered by clay and silt by ancient rivers and seas.

Catalyst and Hancock's subsidiary, Gold Exploration Victoria know the area bears gold similar to that unearthed in Bendigo.

The gold has been dug up at two sites within 55km of the city.

Catalyst is currently assessing rock samples it took after major drilling program at multiple sites north and east of Bendigo, after finding gold in previous exploration bids.

It is also planning to keep drilling at multiple sites across central Victoria throughout the next two months, though that will depend on the weather.

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