Council gives jack to bowls day

By Shaun Inguanzo
GREATER Dandenong Council has withdrawn its support from the Mayoral Charity Bowls Day organised by Rotary Club of Noble Park.
Charities that would normally benefit from the $11,000-plus raised at the annual event now stand to miss out on vital funding after councillors voted against a $5000 support package at Monday night’s council meeting in a close five-to-four vote.
Rotary Club of Noble Park Bowls Day committee chairman Keith Maxwell said he was disappointed with the result.
But Mr Maxwell said Greater Dandenong’s bowls fraternity was keen to run the fundraising event with or without council support, and that the Rotary club would meet tonight (Thursday) to discuss the event’s future.
Mr Maxwell said the Mayoral Charity Bowls Day had been running for 21 years.
The first eight years of the event were organised by the former Springvale City Council.
After the Springvale and Dandenong councils amalgamated in the mid 1990s, the event was outsourced to the Rotary Club of Noble Park, but the council continued its financial support.
All funds raised on the day go directly to a charity of the mayor’s choice.
Mr Maxwell said last year’s event attracted corporate sponsorship as well as council donations, and raised $11,600 for local charities.
He said a similar event to be held in early February would still raise funds for local charities, but would lack the $5000 council support
Keysborough Ward councillor Roz Blades, who put forward the notice of motion urging the council to support the event, described the council’s withdrawal of support as a “measly, penny-pinching” act.
Councillors Sue Walton, Yvonne Herring, Paul Donovan, John Kelly and Maria Sampey voted against the charity day funding, while councillors Roz Blades, Alan Gordon, Youhorn Chea and Peter Brown voted for it.
Councillors Pinar Yesil and Jim Memeti were absent at Monday’s meeting.