A big cash boost has been awarded to the Golden City Paddle Steamer as part of a Ballarat City Council grant program.
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The Lake Wendouree institution was handed a $7356 community impact grant to run training sessions for new skippers.
The paddle steamer was one of 18 community organisations that received between $400 and $9000 from council.
Only two skippers have been qualified to pilot the steamer, which has led to a busy schedule during the warmer months for the pair.
Bob Wuestewald, who was one of the two trained captains, said the grant would allow the steamer more flexible running times.
“The boat relies on me and just another guy, if we are not available the boat can’t run,” he said.
“We needed more people with a licence to drive the vessel.
“We will run as many days as we can if we get booking – I am at the age now where I want to get away a bit, and so is our other skipper, so if we aren’t round the boat won’t run.”
The paddler steamer will host a master five inland course for up to six people to increase the number of available skippers.
Ballarat Toy Library has also had a big cash injection thanks to the grants after it was awarded $6710 under the scheme.
The library will embark on an comprehensive revitalisation program to update and upgrade its stockpile of toys.
President Sally Tuck said a Facebook call out had revealed some long-held sentiment in the community for certain toys.
“People told us they remember they took their kids to the toy library, now they take their grand kids and ask us about the toys we used to have,” she said.
“One of the things they ask is about the old quadro set, which is a really large build your own boat or build your cubby in your backyard kind of thing, like a big Lego set.
“People used to have to book that set out it was so popular and we have only still got part of some it here.
“But we looked into and found out yes we can buy a new set.”
Brown Hill Cricket Club was awarded the most amount of money with a $9000 grant for a furniture replacement project.
More than $82,000 in total was awarded to not-for-profit groups under the grant program.
Council has opened applications for round two, which closes on October 31 at 5pm.