By Kath Gannaway
THE Mountain District Pistol Club in Dixons Creek is on target to rebuild after the February bushfires.
The club received a $100,000 grant from the State and Commonwealth governments’ $3 million Bushfire Community Recovery Fund.
Victorian Sports Minister James Merlino visited the club this month to make the announcement and look over the facility, which was almost completely wiped out by the fires.
The club has hosted several state shooting titles over the years and draws members from a wide area.
“Sporting clubs like the one at Dixons Creek are at the heart of many communities, providing a place for families and friends to get together,” Mr Merlino said. He said many sports clubs were destroyed and facilities and fields badly damaged and that rebuilding them would help to reconnect families, friends and communities and provide recreational activity for communities who have lost so much.
Seymour MP Ben Hardman said the fires destroyed the shooting range, storage, toilets, trees and equipment.
“Providing assistance to rebuild sporting clubs goes a long way to helping the recovery,” Mr Hardman said.
“We don’t want any Victorians to miss out on the benefits of sport and recreation, which is why we are committed to improving the quality and accessibility of local sporting facilities.”