General News
9 October, 2023
Barefoot ski 2024 event among grant recipients
FOUR Wimmera organisations are celebrating after receiving a share of Hindmarsh Shire Council’s 2023-24 Regional Community Events grant funding. The Peter Taylor Memorial Barefoot Ski, Rainbow Desert Enduro, Big Sky Festival and Nhill Airshow will...
FOUR Wimmera organisations are celebrating after receiving a share of Hindmarsh Shire Council’s 2023-24 Regional Community Events grant funding.
The Peter Taylor Memorial Barefoot Ski, Rainbow Desert Enduro, Big Sky Festival and Nhill Airshow will share in $30,000 in grants funding, designed to support community organisations and groups with funding for community events that celebrate culture, heritage and community wellbeing, boost the economy and increase visitation to Hindmarsh Shire.
Dimboola Boating and Ski Club’s Peter Taylor Memorial Barefoot Ski attracted an estimated 2500 visitors to the region from across Australia in 2022.
The weekend often has skiers from the Australian and US barefoot waterski teams attend as a practice event leading up to the international titles.
Initially offered $5000 and an additional $2500 of in-kind support, the club returned to Hindmarsh Shire on September 27 to seek a further $15,000 to assist with operational costs.
The event injects around $600,000 into the local economy over the two days, supporting local businesses.
Club president Darren Bone said a 2-2 vote to grant the additional money was swayed when mayor Brett Ireland crossed the floor to cast a yes vote.
“The cost of running the event is astronomical and we have had to run it on a shoestring in the past,” Mr Bone said.
“We need support to continue the event as we’re not interested in hosting a half-baked event.
“The funding is really good news and we can now go ahead and lock things in.
“We won’t let the shire down.”
The Rainbow Desert Enduro has welcomed off-road racers since the inaugural event in 2017, and the 2024 race-goers can look forward to $4000 and an additional $3500 of in-kind support from council.
The number of competitions has increased each year - as has the variety of motorsport - and the track has since secured national championship status, hosting Victoria’s round one of the ARB Australian Off Road Racing Championship
Rainbow Rises Events Association Inc chair Russell Eckermann said the event, now in its seventh year, “started with nothing”.
“Racing lovers come to Rainbow from all over Australia and we have built our facilities up over time to make the event more practical,” Mr Eckermann said.
“We were fortunate to receive an additional $500,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria and have been putting the grants towards a new pit area, amenities block with showers, and catering facilities.”
The Oasis Rainbow’s Big Sky Festival will build on the success of the previous two events in 2018 and 2022, which each attracted 500 visitors from the region, the state and interstate.
The single-day festival brings the Rainbow community together by offering something for everyone and includes a market, workshops, art activities and live music.
Granted $6000 and $1000 in-kind, Oasis Committee chair Ben Gosling said the funding would assist with running costs.
“It makes it a lot easier to put on a great event and gives us a confidence boost that we can run it again next year,” Mr Gosling said.
“The grant has given us a huge head start and will assist with sound production and musician costs.”
Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre’s third annual Nhill Airshow will be a spectacular event, drawing more than 3000 spectators from across Victoria and interstate to see the aerobatics, vintage aircraft manoeuvres, and a range of aircraft flyovers.
A DC3 will fly passengers in from Melbourne, and helicopter and Tiger Moth joy flights will be offered during the show.
The event, which will also feature a craft fair, children’s activities, music, a flight simulator, and vintage car and memorabilia displays, was granted $5000 cash and a further $2500 in-kind.
Aviation Centre Airshow Committee secretary Jenny Creek said the grant was “great news” and would be used towards advertising costs, particularly social media, to increase promotion of the airshow.