By CASEY NEILL
COUNCILLOR Maria Sampey delivered an extraordinary spray over grants and sponsorship at last Monday’s council meeting.
She made abundantly clear her view that some groups had received too much funding and others too little through the Sponsorships Program and Community Support Grants Program.
Particularly in her sights were the Chilean Latin American September Festival, the Dandenong Show and Noble Park Junior Football Club.
Cr Sampey said the Chilean event represented 13 different countries and deserved the full $15,000 in support it requested.
Instead it will receive $12,000 of the $132,550 in sponsorships distributed – including $20,000 to the Dandenong Show.
“If we’re going to say that we’re multicultural, let’s have a balance,” Cr Sampey said.
“You’re discriminating against these 13 countries.
“We’re only talking about $3000. Let’s fund them.
“If people could read what was being funded they would be horrified.”
Cr Sampey said the three-day Lions Club Summer Community Festival held in Springvale South would receive $22,000 but didn’t have as many attendees as the Chilean festival.
“I’ve got nothing against the Lions Club,” she said.
“I think they should be funded.”
The Noble Park Junior Football Club will receive $1000 for three new AusKick centres and $1000 to start up the Noble Park Netball Club from the $141,580 in community support grants distributed.
“They’re double-dipping,” Cr Sampey said.
“They have gambling machines.”
Cr Roz Blades interrupted and said the Noble Park Junior Football Club was autonomous.
“You’re referring to Club Noble, the Noble Park Social Club,” she said to Cr Sampey.
“They give out funds to all of their clubs, of which there are nine.
“It would be useful if people could get their facts right.
“I think some of the remarks have been entirely unfortunate.”
Cr Blades said the applications had been through a thorough and rigorous process.
“No two groups are the same. Each group contributes to the community,” she said.
“It’s about the council working with the community and volunteers to produce the best event we can.”
With Cr Matthew Kirwan absent from the chamber due to a conflict of interest and Cr Loi Truong an apology for the meeting, the motion passed eight votes to one.
“We’ve certainly heard your views, loud and clear,” Mayor Sean O’Reilly said to Cr Sampey.
