What does the City of Greater Bendigo, local company CVGT Employment and a footy tipping competition have in common? The answer is Lake Weeroona!
In 2021 CVGT's CEO Jason Russell, won the Bendigo Advertiser's Footy Tipping competition with the prize being 100 square metres of turf from another local company Coolabah Turf.
CVGT Employment, who also facilitate the City's Parks and Open Space apprenticeship program, approached the City wishing to donate the turf to a local project. The City gratefully accepted the offer and decided to use the turf on a newly irrigated parcel of land at Lake Weeroona located at the railway end of the lake.
City of Greater Bendigo Sports Fields and Reserves Coordinator Tyrone Downie said this was a terrific gesture by CVGT and the City was pleased to accept the turf donation to help grass an area at the northern end of the lake.
"Best of all the City's Parks and Open Space apprentices will lay the turf, making this project a truly great collaboration between the City and CVGT," Mr Downie said.
"The City has recently installed new irrigation in this area so the turf donation has come at a great time.
"Lake Weeroona is Greater Bendigo's most visited and loved parklands and this project will help improve the northern end of the lake area."
CVGT Employment CEO Jason Russell said trying to find a local community project to donate 100 square metres of turf to has been an interesting problem to have, and why it has taken a few years to resolve.
"Coolabah Turf have been really supportive and understanding through the process," Mr Russell said.
"We are thrilled to donate it to the City for this project that not only beautifies this open space at Lake Weeroona but also gives the City's CVGT apprentices a chance to work on a great collaborative project. We look forward to seeing the end result."
Coolabah Marketing Manager Josh Kerr said Coolabah Turf are passionate about building healthy communities, one green space at a time, ditching screen time for green time and inspiring active bodies and healthy minds.
"We have a great relationship with the City of Greater Bendigo and are proud to supply instant turf for the Lake Weeroona project for the community to enjoy," Mr Kerr said.
