Community service funds distributed

Peninsula organisations were at Everglades Country Club on Monday, November 3, to receive money from a distribution of the poker machine levy.

Representatives from Club Umina, Ettalong Memorial Bowling; Ettalong War Memorial; Everglades Country Club; Woy Woy and District RLFC were among representatives from the Central Coast clubs invited to the event.

Funds totalling $111,714 were made by the clubs to 26 selected organisations from Alzheimers Australia to Youth Worker Training Network.

Recipients operating on the Peninsula were Centacare Gosford which provides meals at Mary MacKillop's place in Woy Woy, the Central Coast Problem Gambling Service based at the Peninsula Community Centre, Peninsula Women's Health Centre and the Umina Beach Police and Community Youth Club.

Convenor Mr Geoff Callingham said: "There was a total of 27 recipients this year compared with only 10 last year."

The five Peninsula-based clubs contributed over $81,500 of the total $131,700 distributed.

The largest amount of $45,000 came from Ettalong Beach Memorial Club, next was Everglades Country Club with $12,218, Woy Woy Leagues Club with $10,044, Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club with $8500 and Club Umina with $6000.

The distribution was made to the local organisations under the Community Development Support Expenditure (CDSE) scheme where clubs with poker machine takings over $1 million provide 1.5 per cent over that amount in community benefits.

Mr Callingham said that altogether 86 applications were received.

"Careful selection of the recipients was made by the local committee with assistance of officers from the Department of Community Services (DoCs); National Council of Social Services (NCoSS) and the grants officer of Gosford Council," he said.

Cec Bucello and Alison Branley, November 11