Friday, August 10, 2012
A Star News Group publication
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Basketball fans set to rug up at Arena for the cold and homeless
Blanket coverage: Supercats Nathan Freind and Jamie Medved rug up for the homeless appeal with GMHBA’s Radford White. Picture: Phil Nitchie
BY MICHELLE HERBISON BASKETBALL fans will help keep the region’s homeless population warm this winter with donations of blankets at a game this weekend. Leaders for Geelong’s Luke Britnell said his Rugged Up project included a blanket drive at Geelong Supercats’ last match of the season. A group of four participants from Committee for Geelong’s two-year leadership program were behind the drive, Mr Britnell said. “The hardship Geelong families and individuals face struck a chord with our project group and we’ve developed a way that will help.” The Rugged Up project had so far worked with Salvos Connect, Salvation Army and Barwon Youth to provide 120 blankets to the homeless but a “real shortage” remained, Mr Britnell said. “On any one night there could be 500 people homeless in Geelong, including sleeping in cars, couch-surfing and sleeping on the streets. This year the cost of living has gone up and this seems to be an increasing issue.” Mr Britnell said the group aimed to collect 500 blankets at the game to be distributed “immediately”. “We’ll take anything as long as it’s clean.” Mr Britnell said collection bins at VicRoads, GMHBA outlets and Geelong Arena could continue to accept blankets throughout August. The Supercats play Bendigo Braves 5.30pm Saturday at Geelong Arena.
Rally to push for pool Government for funding. “We’ve been fighting for this facility since 2006,” Mr Smales said. “Strained council budgets in 2009 meant the project was unable to be funded but we believe it should be reconsidered.” Mr Smales said Torquay and Jan Juc was the largest township in Australia without a public pool.
“The meeting is about gauging and harnessing community support,” Mr Smales said. “We also want to revitalise the group itself because its members have changed since the campaign began in 2006.” Group member Ron Lowe said Torquay’s rising population was increasing demand for an aquatic facility. “A lot of newer residents
might not be aware of our sixyear battle to get this pool built,” Mr Lowe said. “We’re encouraging new members to come to the meeting and throw their support behind it. “More supporters will make a difference to our campaign and will present a stronger argument to the state and federal governments for funding.”
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The most-recent plans for public access to an aquatic facility fell through when a private firm withdrew plans to finance a pool at Torquay College. Surf Coast Shire councillors also unsuccessfully urged RACV in 2007 to offer public access to any pool included in its Torquay Golf Club redevelopment.
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Residents would favour candidates at October’s council elections if they supported the pool push, he said. “We’ve spoken to several councillors who seem interested in putting their support behind the project.” The action group has called a community “rally” on August 19 to inform residents about the need for a public aquatic centre.
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BY CHERIE DONNELLAN SURF Coast Shire needs a councillor to “champion” a community group’s new push for a public aquatic facility, according a group spokesman. Surf Coast Leisure Centre Action Group’s Tony Smales said a public pool had “huge” community support but “at least one councillor” must lobby State
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