HERE’S A PIZZA FUNDING: Upwey Pizza operator Kye Garrett (left) is one of many business owners pitching in to help keep the Upwey Toy Library alive.By SHAUN INGUANZO
AN UPWEY toy library has been forced to beg for its survival after failing to receive Shire of Yarra Ranges community grants for seven years running.
Upwey Toy Library president Lillian Clark said the 28yearold community toy library was on the verge of closing if it could not gather a minimum of $300 to cover the cost of running the library until December.
She said the group had recently commenced a ‘begging campaign’ by approaching local businesses for small donations after seven years of applications for the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ annual community grants were rejected.
Ms Clark said the volunteer group was hit hard financially in late 2003 when storms ravaged a shed containing the group’s outdoor toys, destroying many wooden toys with sewage.
Ms Clark said insurance was not received until mid2004, and membership floundered to just 15 active borrowers, depleting the group’s cash reserves.
While the membership has slowly returned to 35, Ms Clark said fundraising had proven unsuccessful due to a small volunteer base.
She said the toy library had been applying for numerous grants over the past seven years, including the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ community grants, without success.
Ms Clark said the initial application for this year’s community grant of $5000 would cover the cost of a toy library relaunch to increase membership and attract new volunteers.
When this application was unsuccessful, Ms Clark said the toy library asked the council for a smaller, oneoff grant of $500 to continue operations, but was again turned away.
“Our secretary contacted the council afterwards and its basic comment was that ‘we won’t ever give you money to keep your core business running’,” she said.
Council community relations officer Simone Ryan said 65 applications to the value of $450,000 were received for this year’s community grants, but only $100,000 could be catered for.
“The assessment panel assesses according to publicised criteria, and all groups are encouraged strongly to see shire staff before applying to ensure they get the application as close as possible to the criteria,” she said.
But Ms Clark said the toy library consulted the council before applying.
“We always ring before we submit and explain what we need, and (the shire) is always like, ‘yes, put it in’.
“We found out they had fewer people apply this year than last, and while they only had $100,000 to give away, they gave it away to 15 organisations which each got a fair whack.”
Ms Clark said volunteers had since contributed $200 of their own savings to cut the running cost to $300.
She said local businesses had thrown their support behind the group, with Upwey Pizza operator Kye Garrett donating $100, Upwey small businesses Moody Blue Cafe and Restaurant, Creative Christina’s Crafts, and Upwey Village Bakery donating $50 each, and Nicholas Petris and Associates in Tecoma donating $50.
Ms Clark thanked the community for its support, and encouraged new members and volunteers to join the toy library by attending its annual general meeting in October.
“Our AGM for choosing the 2006 committee will be on 5 October at Upwey Preschool from 1.30pm to 2.30pm,” she said.
