Bushfire-hit Kangaroo Island tennis club receives a helping hand from CommBank
The rebuild of Kangaroo Island after bushfires swept through is a long-term task, but one community group has received a welcome boost.
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With the summer’s devastating bushfires almost a distant memory in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Commonwealth Bank is urging fire-hit regional communities to apply for a grant to help them rebuild.
Stokes Bay Tennis Club on Kangaroo Island has secured a $50,000 CommBank grant and member Marina Gregor says a rebuild of their scorched facilities would not be possible in the near future without this support.
The KI fire burnt down the entire sports club and the funding will go towards rebuilding its tennis courts, fencing and lighting.
“The funding is the difference between the club getting new courts in one year, versus five to 10 years,” Mrs Gregor said.
“Being a smaller club, our funding options were limited.”
The club has about 50 players, ranging from eight to 80 years old. It is part of the KI Tennis Association – an association made up of five clubs on the island, two of which were completely wiped out in the recent bushfires.
“Tennis has been a sport on KI that has really brought the community together,” Mrs Gregor said.
“The devastation caused by the bushfires has not only impacted the club itself, but also our members, their families and the wider KI community – we all know someone who has been affected by the fires.
“CommBank’s Bushfire Recovery Grant allows us to start the rebuilding phase for our club, building new tennis courts and surfaces, as well as fencing and lighting, so we can have our members back on the court sooner rather than later”.
She said sport will be good for the community’s mental, as well as physical health.
Mrs Gregor said while the island’s rebuild was well under way, it was slow going.
“There’s still people cleaning up their houses and people are very busy with fencing. Some of our members have over 100km of fencing to do,” she said.
The CommBank Bushfire Recovery Grants form part of the bank’s broader Bushfire Appeal. They are awarded to community organisations to help them rebuild important facilities and infrastructure that were lost in the fires.
Commonwealth Bank’s South Australian deputy regional general manager Sally Gubbin said while the immediate danger of the bushfires had gone, the crisis was by no means over for those affected.
“They now face the tough task of rebuilding their homes, businesses and communities,” she said.
“We hope that our Bushfire Recovery Grants will help ease some of the burden as they work through this long-term recovery.”
To apply for a grant, visit commbank.com.au/latest/bushfire-appeal.html