07 Dec Community bus appeal cooking with gas

Corangamite Shire Councillor Jamie Vogels has praised the local gas industry for getting behind Timboon and District Healthcare Service’s 2021 community bus appeal.

Cr Vogels, who chairs community reference and liaison groups for local gas plants, said the companies had collectively funded almost one-third of the entire bus project.

“We’re talking about nearly $50,000 and I think sometimes it gets forgotten just how much money our gas companies pour back into community projects like this,” he said.

“Our communities don’t have a lot of big corporate citizens, so the contributions of Cooper Energy, Lochard Energy, Beach Energy, SEA Gas and the APA Group are significant.

“They don’t always seek recognition for their monetary contributions to the Corangamite Shire community – in fact many go unnoticed – but in this case I wanted to highlight their support for the health service’s annual appeal.”

Cr Vogels said the presence of gas companies, on and offshore, in the region was something that would always, quite rightly, attract community scrutiny.

“We all understand there are sensitivities, but I have a front row seat now, as chair of their various community reference groups for the Council, and these companies are real assets to our community,” he said.

“They are involved with hundreds of jobs and I have found them all to be very upfront with what they are up to and how their interests in the area can support our communities.

“While they may compete in some respects, they also work collaboratively for the betterment of their industry and its standing in the community.

“This contribution toward the 2021 annual appeal for a community bus is just one example of a project that will come to fruition, due in part to these companies giving back.”

TDHS chief executive officer Rebecca Van Wollingen echoed Cr Vogels sentiments and said the Board and management were grateful for the cash injection into the appeal.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the appeal and we are closing in on the $160,000 we need to purchase the vehicle,” she said.

“This vehicle will help so many older, and impaired, members of our community attend social support group and other planned activities – greatly contributing to their increased community involvement and a reduction in any sense of isolation.

“We thank the gas industry, and all our generous donors, for recognising the importance of our 2021 appeal and helping turn the vision into a reality.”

Further community donations can be made online here www.timboonhealthcare.com.au/donate