A combination of 26 sporting clubs, community groups and individuals in the Melton area have shared in $50,000 via the Essendon Football Club and Melton Country Club Community Grant Program. The winners were officially announced and presented with their awards by representatives of Melton Country Club and Essendon Football Club, including Bombers’ assistant coach Robert Shaw, at an Awards Ceremony held at the Melton Country Club last night.

The aim of the Community Grant Program was to provide Melton sporting and community groups financial assistance in order for them to achieve their objectives and to assist in the development of individuals and groups within the Melton community.

Representatives from Melton Country Club and Essendon Football Club met to consider over 50 applications submitted and recognised community groups that demonstrated some of the following attributes.

  • uniqueness and innovation

  • independence and self-support

  • the ability to overcome adversity

  • the potential to learn and develop

    • Essendon chairman Graeme McMahon and Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy launched the Community Grant Program at the Melton Country Club in August this year. Guidelines and grant applications were available upon request and submissions had to be completed by Monday September 30th, 2002.

    Essendon Football Club and Melton Country Club chairman, Graeme McMahon is hopeful the award winners will greatly benefit from the financial contribution. “The Essendon Football Club and Community Sporting Club has donated in excess of $200,000 to affiliated Essendon sporting groups in the last two years and they have been able to achieve a great deal with their donations. We see the Community Grant Program as a great opportunity to help sporting and community groups in Melton do the same.”

    Melton Country Club manager, Daryl Absalom said the Community Grant program was a fantastic opportunity for the Melton community. “We are extremely grateful to the Essendon Football Club for providing us with $50,000 for the Community Grant Program. The Essendon Football Club and the Melton Country Club both consider fostering community involvement and support to be a prime objective and I believe the grants will do exactly that,” Absalom said.

    Melton Country Club Community Grants

    Sporting Grants
    Coburn Tennis Club $1,174
    Melton Auskick $4,439
    Melton Callisthenics Club $2,400
    Melton Central Football Club $3,850
    Melton Football Club $1,100
    Melton Football Club Juniors $1,200
    Melton South Junior Football Club $1,925
    Melton South Primary School Cricket Club $1,200
    Melton West Cricket Club $900
    St Anthony CRC Cricket Club $2,000
    Satellite City United Soccer Club $1,000
    Scot’s Uniting Tennis Club $1,810
    Squadron Stars Marching Team $635

    Community Grants
    Melton Bluelight $3,000
    3rd West Melton Brownie Guides $300
    1st Melton Cub/Scouts $500
    Melton Cancer Support Group $458
    Melton Environment Group $1,427
    Melton Fire Brigade $1,200
    Melton Uniting Church Kindergarten $5,500
    Planet Youth $1,000
    Friendship on the Move – “Reach out Youth” $2,400
    Vietname Veterans $1,900

    Individual Grants
    Natasha Jones $3,575
    Angela Kaiser $2,500
    Cameron Scott $2,500