Club in mood for charity

By Melissa Meehan
IN A SHOW of community support Healesville Racing Club did its best to give back to the community this week as it presented over $1,000 to local charities and organisations.
To thank the community for its support over the past year the Racing Club along with the Healesville Punters Club raised $1500.
Chairman of the Healesville Racing Club John O’Neill said that the money was raised through dividends from the Punters Club.
“We pay winning dividends to the nearest ‘fiver’, so if someone wins six dollars and fifty cents then they are given $5 and we keep a dollar fifty for charity,” Mr O’Neill said.
A $250 cheque was presented to the Healesville Pony Club and the local Country Fire Authority (CFA) and $500 was presented to the Healesville Interchurch Community Care Incorporated (HICCI) and Riding for the Disabled (RDA).
Healesville Pony Club president Mark Melville said that he was very pleased to receive the cheque and that the funds will be used for improving facilities at the club.
“It’s really fantastic to see that one type of horsing fraternity is helping out another after we have been struggling with the Equine Influenza lockdown,” Mr Melville said.
Mr Melville said that he appreciated the support from the racing club and congratulated them for supporting young riders.
“We are pleased that we can work together through initiatives like this, and hope to build a stronger relationship in the future,” Mr Melville said.
HICCI is a network of local Christian churches that provides volunteer services to the local community of Healesville and Yarra Glen.
They assist with firewood, medicine, shoes, clothing and other items for families and also provide special hampers at Christmas time.
RDA is a voluntary non-for-profit organisation that provides riding instruction and other activities associated with riding and harness driving for people with disabilities.
Mr O’Neill said that it was important to give back to the community and that the club specifically chose the recipients based on their community value as well as having links to the horse community.