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As keen paddlers, the Warrnambool Dragon Boat Club know the importance of teamwork. And thanks to a Warrnambool City Council grant, that collaboration will be much easier off the water too, with funding for a new club laptop.
The club successfully applied for $2,518 via the Community Development Fund, with applications for the next round of funding open until Sunday June 29.
Grants of up to $5,000 are available for sport, recreation, arts, culture, environment and sustainability equipment and projects.
A new category has also been added, with grants of up to $10,000 available for improvements to community facilities.
Warrnambool Dragon Boat Club President Victoria Dunn said that the new laptop would make administration much more streamlined.
“It’s going to allow us to centralise our data and the committee will be able to use it for all sorts of things including web design,” she said.
“At the moment it’s spread across a couple of different laptops owned by club members, but it can all come onto one laptop and be moved around for meetings.”
Club Treasurer Jen Rowe said that the Community Development Fund, which has been running since 1999, was a big help for clubs like the Dragon Boat Club.
“For small clubs, we don’t have a lot of money at our disposal so these sorts of things are fantastic for us,” she said.
“(Other clubs should) just be aware that these things are available and think a little bit outside the square as to what you might need.”
Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain encouraged everyone to look at the funding criteria and see how a share in Council’s $143,902 funding pool could help their group.
“Looking at the Dragon Boat Club, I’m sure their experience of having lots of important files spread across multiple computers would be common for other clubs in Warrnambool,” he said.
“It’s a great example of how flexible these grants are.
“What might seem like a simple piece of equipment will make things a lot easier for the club, and that’s what these grants are all about: looking at how Council can help local clubs, groups and artists continue to provide the huge benefits to the community that they do.”