By Dongyun Kwon
Healesville Bowling Club presented a $410 cheque to a local charity and welfare organisation on Thursday 8 May.
The sporting club hosted the Family Barefoot Bowls over five months, where local families could have a fun time on a Friday night.
Family Barefoot Bowls organiser Mick Featherstone said the event was to get younger people involved in the club for future memberships.
“It was to make sure that the club continues for another 50 years. Our club has gone for over 130 years now,” he said.
“Over the five that we did, we got roughly 300 people plus kids, and a lot of younger families did say that it’s giving them an opportunity to go somewhere on a Friday night with their families, have a drink, let the kids run around and enjoy themselves.”
The event was held every second last Friday of the month for five months last summer.
The participants played bowling for great prizes at the end of the night while enjoying barbecue, along with raffles and free giveaways, including ice poles for children.
Mr Featherstone said he could run the Family Barefoot Bowls thanks to support from the club members and local traders.
“With the raffles, we had Mainstreet Quality Butchers and Smokehouse, Steve Hollis, and Oakridge Wines. They got on board and they supplied the raffle prizes like meat trays and bottles of wine,” he said.
“Everyone paid a $5 entry fee for the Family Barefoot Bowls, and they were given a raffle ticket. At the end of the night, we did a lucky draw.
“Most of the nights, we had $300 plus in giveaways for the lucky draw prizes. It was the way that all the traders jumped on board, which was fantastic.”
Healesville Bowling Club successfully raised $410 through the raffles.
Ian Milgate, who supported Mr Featherstone to run the event, said HICCI was a worthy recipient for the funds.
“They give a lot to the community, and they’re always looking for donations to help them give to other people,” he said.
“That’s why we decided to give it to HICCI.”
HICCI executive officer Alison Gommers appreciated the special gift from the Healesville Bowling Club.
“We’re very honoured to work with our community and for the support of local people,” she said.
“I know what it’s like with volunteers working, and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our volunteers.
“That’s a very special gift and greatly received.”
The club will host the same event again this year to bring the community spirit back while raising funds for a beneficial influence on the local community.
