Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club has returned $390 000 to schools, charities and sporting groups in the Canterbury area and the wider community. The recipients have been selected following an arduous process involving Club officials and Canterbury Council.
As part of the Club’s Community Development Support Expenditure (CDSE) allocation for the year, funding will be used to help children, the disabled and the elderly throughout the Canterbury area.General Manager Dean Thomas says the Club takes very seriously its commitment to the community. “It’s Canterbury Hurlstone Park’s duty to return money to the community,” he says. “We believe we should do all we can to make our community a better place. “Our Club has maintained the strong commitment to contributing to the community,” he says, “Even in testing times of Club Legislative change, unheralded Poker Machine Tax levels and Smoking Bans, which came into force in July this year.” “Our Club is proud of the partnerships we have established with the recipients, as well as the long-term relationships we have nurtured with our community leaders.” Club President Neville Brown says the club is committed to the local community. “Clubs are part of the fabric of our society,” he says. “We appreciate the support the community affords us and in return we are proud to be able to assist community groups.”
“These groups contribute so much to our local area. They do wonderful work and it gives us great satisfaction to support them.”The groups selected to share in the funding allocation were honoured at a Community Celebration function at the club last month, where they were addressed by Club Management, as well as Canterbury Mayor Robert Furolo. The function brought together the area’s leading community groups to be entertained by students from Canterbury Girls High School and fellow-recipients, the Horizon Theatre Company Recipient group Vision Australia says they’ll use their $5000 allocation on employment training for the vision impaired in the Canterbury area.
They say 63% of blind people want to work, however, find it difficult to gain employment. The money will therefore be used to train the vision impaired in adaptive computer technologies, and help them create and maintain employment, helping them achieve maximum independence and enhanced quality of life. Life will be more musical at Canterbury Girls High School thanks to Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL.They’ll use their $8000 funding allocation to expand the school band. President of the Band Committee at the High School, Sue Freeman, says at the moment, there is considerable cost associated with being a band member. Tuition fees, instrument hire and band camp fess all add up. However, thanks to the funding from CHP RSL, all interested students will be now able to join in.
“We will use the money to minimize the financial burden on families,” says Ms Freeman. “Our band is led by Mr Clive Lane, who was the Deputy Principal of Sydney Conservatorium High School and all the teachers are Conservatorium graduates, so our students are really lucky.”“We want everyone to be able to take advantage of these wonderful tutors, regardless of financial status.”Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT), a leading service provider for people with Autism and their families also received support from the Club. They provide an extensive range of services, from early intervention and special schooling through to adult services and family support, and have received $10,000 from Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club.Much of ASPECT’s work is in the Canterbury area.
ASPECT will use their funding allocation on two specific projects. Firstly, they’ll establish an Early Intervention program for young children diagnosed with autism. Research shows early intervention makes it easier for the kids to manage their disability and integrate into mainstream programs. However, there is currently enormous demand for this service and severely limited places.
ASPECT will also use their money to run a “Kids Siblings” camp, for the brothers and sisters of autistic children who are forced to deal with a wide range of issues other children don’t have to deal with. It’s thought bringing together these kids with shared experiences will help them better-deal with their family situation. ASPECT spokesperson Sally Shepherd says the organization needs to raise approximately $2,000 for every child they help. “The donation from Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL will help us reach five children locally and help them to make sense of the world,” says Sally. “It will help them to cope with life, to get on with others, to make friends and to do many other simple things that most of us take for granted. On their behalf, thank you Canterbury Hurlstone Park, for helping to overcome the isolation of autism.” Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL is delighted to be able help such a broad cross section of the local community and is dedicated to continuing its support.
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