Yarra Valley Pony Club members, Minister James Merlino and Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox get excited about the $20,000 gift. By Monique Ebrington
THE fire-hit Yarra Glen Pony Club will get $20,000 from the State Government to get it back in the saddle, Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino announced last Tuesday.
Even though its clubhouse was saved by a passing water truck, the club was hit hard by the bushfires: it lost its jumps and fences and much of its grounds were damaged.
Mr Merlino said he was proud to provide the club with funds that would get it to get back on track.
“We want to get these sporting and recreation communities up and running as soon as possible,” Mr Merlino said.
He said he had visited the club directly after the fires and now planned to return a third time when it was up and running again.
“I’m going to come back and I want to see some of the pony club members jumping their new jumps,” he said.
Mr Merlino announced the cash benefit in front of excited pony club members, their families and Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox.
Yarra Glen Pony Club president Michelle Harper thanked the government for its contribution and said it would be of great benefit to the club.
“Not only can we recover, but we can grow even more as a community,” Mrs Harper said.
“The support of the government has just been terrific, enabling us to grow and just become stronger.”
The Yarra Glen Pony Club committee will hold a meeting to decide how the money would be best spent.
