THE Rotary Club of Armidale’s fund-raising campaign to upgrade the BackTrack learning space/studio has received a $10,000 boost through a blitz of votes on a new Community Mutual Group website.
It is the first Armidale project to score more than 200 votes, double the number required to meet the heartofourcommunity introductory challenge.
CMG marketing executive manager, Darren Schaefer said he was “hugely impressed” by the response to the new website, launched earlier this year to give community members the chance to register their projects online and win support and momentum.
“We have offered a few key projects the challenge to use the site and gather supporters,” he said.
“BackTrack enthusiasts met the challenge within a week and then went on to more than double the number required which shows what people power can do.”
Mr Schaefer said www.heartofourcommunity.com had been set up to complement CMG’s annual sponsorships and community partnership accounts and to encourage community partnerships and collaboration to convert good ideas into on the ground projects.
“It’s all about collaboration and the Rotary/BackTrack model is the sort of partnership with CMG we are actively seeking to promote.
“We already have already successfully teamed up with Rotary on the Healthy Highlanders Fitness Trail initiative in Guyra which is almost completed.”
Mr Schaefer said many other local projects had already been listed on the website to gather support and urged community groups to go to https://www.heartofourcommunity.com.au to vote on inspired initiatives for their towns.
Rotary Club of Armidale President Chris Ross-Smith said members had welcomed the unique way of fund-raising to meet the $47,000 needed to complete the project.
“We are committed to upgrading the BackTrack learning space/studio because it’s a great initiative to help young people to catch up on the literacy and numeracy skills they have missed out on at school,” he said.
“Where they were lost in mainstream classes because they were so far behind, they are now attending regularly and the results are really encouraging. The Department of Education is behind this scheme and Rotary wants to help to bring the room being used for the classes to a better standard.”
As well as raising funds, the Rotarians will provide professional services and labour to complete the project.
Mr Schaefer said many other local projects had already been listed on the website to gather support and urged community groups to go to https://www.heartofourcommunity.com.au to register.
