Funding boost

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE Greyhound Association and the Healesville Amateur Racing Club have received a funding boost under the State Government’s Living Country Racing Program.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls visited the greyhound track last week to announce $17,850 in grants under the State Government’s $400,000 allocation to 36 country racing clubs.
Healesville Greyhound Association has been given $13,950 to upgrade toilet facilities and improve access for people with a disability and the Racing Club received $3,900 for new ticket box and canteen improvements.
Mr Hulls said the Healesville community was once again a big winner under the program.
Last year the Greyhound Association received $25,264 to upgrade the access road and provide outdoor tables and chairs.
Mr Hulls had the opportunity during his visit to inspect both projects with club manager Ken Hutchinson and Jan Wilson, chairman of Greyhound Racing Victoria.
“When you add the works funded by the program to the other improvements that Greyhound Racing Victoria and the Healesville Greyhound association are funding, it is clear that Healesville is being transformed into a key regional greyhound racing centre,” he said.
“I know as the Racing Minister that country racing is the life-blood of racing in this state,” Mr Hulls added.
“Small grants to clubs like the ones listed under the Living Country Racing Program are just as important as large infrastructure spending on the state’s big clubs and can make a huge difference to those clubs.”
“Improving facilities at country tracks and making them more accessible to the wider community to use for non-racing purposes will help to secure the future of the clubs and of country racing,” he said.
Mr Hutchinson said the grant would continue a raft of recent improvements to the greyhound facility including new kennels, improvements to the betting ring and cafe area and a new TAB, which would allow betting on track on all race meetings.
Peter Hardham also thanked the minister on behalf of the Healesville Amateur Racing Club.
“The money will certainly be put to good use,” he said.