The Penola National Trust was the lucky recipient of a $2000 donation from Elders Mount Gambier.
The donation was made as part of the Elders ‘Kick In’ campaign and clients who purchased their horticulture products from Elders Mount Gambier went in the running to win money for their chosen local charity.
Duxton Apples chief executive Geoff Karl nominated the Penola National Trust as the beneficiary of the donation and the cheque was presented by Elders Mount Gambier agronomist Davoc Collins to Penola National Trust president Pete Balnaves and member Evelynne Bowden.
“They do good work, they look after a lot of historical buildings here in Penola and we live in Petticoat Lane, my wife volunteers at the herb garden in Petticoat Lane so it seemed like a common-sense thing to do,” Mr Karl said.
Mr Balnaves said the donation would go towards installing bathroom facilities in two cottages which were built without these facilities in the 1800s.
“This Wilson’s Cottage project is the first of the two that we are going to put bathroom and kitchen facilities in so that it can be then sublet as a bed and breakfast operation,” he said.
“Our aim is to try and make all of those buildings self-sustaining, meaning the income they produce is then re-invested in those buildings to make sure they are maintained and kept for the next generation, because tourism is an important drawcard for Penola and the offering the national trust has got plays an important part on that drawcard.
“There is a shortage of accommodation in Penola so anything that can add to the list of experiences is a good thing.
“It is a unique experience that you cannot necessarily get everywhere, so it is good to be able to offer that and it is also good that local businesspeople can start up a small business as a bed and breakfast.”
Mr Balnaves said the Penola National Trust was a not-for-profit organisation which was always seeking public donations and said they were very pleased to be considered.
“Duxton thought of us and directed the donation towards us, so we were really, really pleased, obviously money is always tight, so it is nice to get these sorts of things in your own backyard,” he said.
“We are also very thankful for Elders, I think it is a first-class program they have got.”
Mr Collins said the Kick In campaign was a way for Elders to give back to the local community.
“They were very excited, they were very grateful for it and it is going towards a good cause, you can see exactly where it is getting used, so it is good,” he said.
Mr Collins believed the Kick In campaign had been successful across all 10 participating stores and said supporting local businesses in the region was important to Elders Mount Gambier.
“They are the ones that keep us all running, it keeps people in the towns, it is always good to give back to the local communities it keeps people happy in the community and we like to be a part of it and keep them all running,” he said.
