A SMALL town in the South East’s dairy heartland is celebrating after winning a $2500 grant as part of a popular program designed to put rural towns ‘on the map’.
Mount Schank is a handful of houses, a church, a CFS shed and a tennis club and does not even have a town sign.
But it does have one of the best playgrounds in the Mount Gambier and Districts Tennis Association which is about to get even better thanks to the Legendairy Capital program.
Recently, the tennis club was named one of eight finalists in the Legendairy program, with each finalist securing a grant for a community project.
Mount Schank resident Kylie Boston assisted with the Dairy Australia application and said dairy farming had been in the region for many years.
“Various farms are third generation or more,” she said.
About half of the club’s players are dairyfarmers and people who work in the industry or agriculture.
“Most of us at the club have some association with dairy or agriculture,” Mrs Boston said.
“One of the coaches runs the local Landmark store and there's lots of people that are associated with the dairy industry in the area.”
Mrs Boston said the club thought the Legendairy Capital program was a good opportunity because it needed to “do up” its playground.
“There’s not a lot of funding opportunities around and it was an opportunity we saw come through,” she said.
Mount Schank dairyfarmer Will Seidel is a member of the club.
Last season in his team alone there were three dairyfarmers, plus those who support the industry, such as delivery drivers and workers.
“It is a pretty big grant to get, it all helps the club,” he said. “Money does get a little tight, and grants like this help to motivate people in the club.”
Mrs Boston said they were excited about their victory.
“It's the recognition, I suppose, and it's nice to be part of something like that,” she said.
The Mount Schank playground is what she believes sets the club apart from the rest of the competition.
The club submitted its application in March, featuring a video about the town's history made by Mrs Boston’s daughter Sophie.
The Legendairy Capital program will announce the overall winner in September, with an additional $7500 grant for the winning town.
Details: Learn more about the other finalists at legendairy.com.au/capital
