Advance Heathcote reflects on success

LAST Monday’s Advance Heathcote annual general meeting has showcased the organisation’s achievements for the 2021-22 financial year.

President, Peter Maine, said there had been several highlights over the reporting period.

“We finally completed the 2021-25 community plan in February 2022 as it was delayed due to COVID challenges,” he said.

He also said the committee had continued to build strong working relationships with the City of Greater Bendigo which were invaluable when advocating for key community issues such as footpaths, parking and roads and other council related matters.

“We launched the Welcome to New Residents Pack and the Heathcote Community Directory,” he said.

Other notable achievements for the group included ongoing projects like pushing for water fluoridation, a skate park redevelopment, the safer town working group, the establishment of a youth forum, and the Heathcote dementia working group.

Finally, Mr Maine also addressed the recent failure to secure an operator for the proposed Heathcote dementia village/ Gilbruk Place development and said this was largely due to uncertainty around Federal Government funding for aged care.

As part of the meeting, current Advance Heathcote office bearers were re-elected unopposed.

The committee currently comprises president Peter Maine, vice-president Elise Wright, secretary Kerstin Brauns, treasurer Sherrie Coote and ordinary committee members Pat Armstrong and Lisa Davidson.

Back in office: Vice-president Elise Wright, treasurer Sherrie Coote, president Peter Maine, secretary Kerstin Brauns and committee members Lisa Davidson and Pat Armstrong. Photo: PETER WEAVING

Advance Heathcote Inc takes an Award at Business Excellence Awards

Advance Heathcote Inc takes an Award at Business Excellence Awards

1st June 2018

The Bendigo Excellence Awards recognise the tremendous achievements of local businesses from each industry sector - 18 categories in total. Advance Heathcote Inc was nominated in the "excellence as a not-for-profit" category. This category is designed to recognise social enterprise, not-for-profit organisations that apply commercial strategies to maximise improvements in human and environmental wellbeing. Providing a social or community benefit was also a prerequisite for the award. 

"The competition was tough, we were up against the Bendigo Discovery Science & Technology Centre and Make a Change Australia, so we were happy to have made it as a finalist alongside these well-established and recognised not-for-profit organsiations," Sandra Slatter, secretary of Advance Heathcote said. "No way did we dream we would be winners, we were absolutely stunned and overwhelmed when the announcement was made."

Peter Maine, Advance Heathcote president said, "I am delighted and proud of the recognition that our hardworking volunteer efforts are achieving for Heathcote. Thankyou to our local ward Councillors Yvonne Wrigglesworth and Marg O'Rourke who came along to support us. Also a big thankyou to BeBendigo and congratulations to those who were either winners of finalists."

 

Advance Heathcote Inc's Committee of Management Reports on the First Two Years Achievements of the Community Plan at the Annual General Meeting

AT ITS INAUGERAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Monday, 10th October 2016, Advance Heathcote Incorporated's Committee of Management reported on the progress and achievements of the Community Plan activities during 2014 - 2016 period. The Community Plan has a total of 80 projects listed over the three year period. During the first two years of the Community Plan, 21 projects were completed/established and operational; 37 achieved partial completion or in progress and the remaining 22 projects were ongoing within the timeframe of the Plan.

President, Mr Peter Maine reported that $2.8 million had been invested in our community during this two year period to implement community driven projects - many of these projects had been waiting for funding since our Community Planning progress commenced in 2007. The resources to fund the projects were from a range of sources - City of Greater Bendigo, Heathcote & District Community Bank, Stronger Familes Program, Victorian Ministry of Sport, Bendigo Health, Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operations, Heathcote Lions Club, IGA, Mitre 10 and other local business sponsorship for the Heathcote Community Games and O'Keefe Rail Trail Marathon.

Mr Maine highlighted one longstanding community project, the re-development of Barrack Reserve Stadium with $1.8m allocated from the City of Greater Bendigo, plus $160,000 from the Heathcote & District Community Bank and $30,000 from the Heathcote Football & Netball Club to undertake the stadium re-development. This will be a great community facility once works are completed and available for use to a wide range of community groups.

Advance Heathcote Inc will continue to progress the remaining projects of the 2014-2017 Community Plan and mid 2017, will begin community engagment and consultation to review the Community Plan outcomes; seek input on community needs and future projects resulting in the next 2017-2020 Heathcote & District Community Plan.

The President's report is available in the PowerPoint presentation link.

Guest speaker at the Annual General Meeting, Trevor Budge, Manager of Strategy-City of Greater Bendigo with Peter Maine, President, Advance Heathcote Inc.

It's an impressive haul for a hall

Almost $50,000 for upgrade

By Brownyn Lumsden

Heathcote community members joined Lisa Chesters and Sherrie Coote to make an exciting announcement last week regarding upgrade funding for Heathcote RSL Hall.

THE Heathcote community has scored a win securing nearly $50,000 in grant funds to upgrade the Heathcote RSL Hall.

Heathcote and District’s Community Plan listed improvements to the RSL Hall in the inaugural 2007 Plan and again in the current 2014-2017 Community Plan.

Through Advance Heathcote’s art, culture, history and events theme group, the project has been championed by 14 enthusiastic community groups who use the RSL Hall for a variety of community activities and functions.

The purpose of the community working group was to identify improvements required in the RSL Hall facilities and raise some funds to undertake the works.

Advance Heathcote has been successful and raised $37,725.59 towards the Project plus an additional contribution of $9709 in works from the City of Greater Bendigo. Summary of funds: $20,000 via Lisa Chesters MP, Stronger Communities Program – Federal Government grant towards replacement of the heating/cooling system in the large RSL Hall area $15,725.59 from the Heathcote and District Community Bank Bendigo Bank-Community Enterprise Foundation grants for 900mm wide cooker/ oven, commercial dishwasher and microwave, cooking equipment and glassware; alternative, replacement of the fluorescent lighting with more ambient suspended track lighting and fixed picture railing in the main RSL Hall $9,709 from City of Greater Bendigo installation of a boiling hot water wall unit and storage upgrades in the kitchen and a new heating/cooling unit in the small meeting room. Total funds $45,434.59. Advance Heathcote Inc has driven the project through Theme Group Champion, Sherrie Coote and the community Working Group.

“This is an example of community empowerment and capacity building through implementing our Community Plan,” Ms Coote said.

“I think at the beginning of the Project probably no-one thought we would raise the funds required to kickstart the Project.

“The initial funding from the Heathcote and District Community Bank helped bring on board other funding partners, resulting in the Council placing the RSL Hall in its 2016-2017 renewal/upgrade budget to allocate funds to complete the upgrade of the heating/cooling system.

“All of us are looking forward to being warm next time we go to an event in the RSL during winter.

“We are appreciative of the support from our local Federal Member, Lisa Chesters for supporting us in acquiring the Stronger Communities Program grant,” Ms Coote said.