Mallacoota and District (MAD) Tool Library gratefully acknowledges the Community Bank Mallacoota (Bendigo Bank) for a generous donation of $10,460 to buy three new pieces of equipment.
Adding to the library’s range of power and hand-operated tools available on loan to members, the new equipment consists of:
– An electric-start 6.5hp Masport chipper;
– A Deutsche self-propelled mower; and
– A set of heavy-duty loading ramps.
The grant significantly boosts the library’s stock of tools and equipment for loan, and benefits the more than 100 members, many of who lost their own tools in the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires.
Community Bank Mallacoota board member, Sue Nicolaou, said the bank’s business model centres around meeting local community needs and developing connections with the community.
“As such, the Community Bank Mallacoota is proud of its recent partnership with the Mallacoota Tool Library, providing essential funding for new equipment,” she said.
“The board members were impressed with the MAD Tool Library’s application, which focused on how the new equipment would contribute to a safer and greener future for the town, and on enabling residents to pursue their projects and learn new skills.”
Speaking at the unveiling of the new equipment, Peter Jones, committee member and volunteer at MAD Tool Library, thanked the Community Bank Mallacoota.
“Thanks to this generous grant from the Community Bank Mallacoota, we’re able to give our members an even greater choice of equipment to cater for the needs of our remote community,” Mr Jones said.
“The new equipment was requested by our members, to help reduce fuel loads and recycle green waste on their properties. This in turn will reduce the likelihood, severity, and impacts of future bushfires around our district.
“The tool library has been a bit of a lifesaver, as it’s expensive to buy tools like lawn mowers and chain saws. Also, it can be hard to get tradies in for garden jobs that are smaller but urgent, such as clearing fallen branches after a storm.”
The MAD Tool Library started up in response to the district’s need for equipment to help cleanup efforts after it was particularly hard-hit by the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires.
The local Rotary Club donated $10,000 in seed funding, while the Federal Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program provided $125,000 to ensure the library’s ongoing viability.
For $50 a year, members can borrow tools free of charge for one-off jobs around their house and garden. This is a massive saving for members, as they no longer need to buy the equipment themselves.
Tool libraries also have social wellbeing benefits, with members dropping in for a chat with the volunteer ‘librarians’, as well as advice on the correct use of safety gear, and how to correctly use and maintain the tools. The MAD Tool Library is open every Thursday from 9am to 11am, and is staffed by volunteers.
IMAGE: MAD Tool Library committee members and volunteers celebrate the unveiling of new equipment, made possible through a grant from the Community Bank Mallacoota (Bendigo Bank). PICTURED: David Whittle, president MAD Tool Library, Sue Nicolaou, board member Community Bank Mallacoota, MAD Tool Library committee members Stewart Laxton, Steven Millard, Michael Kean, manager Community Bank Mallacoota, Tony Maly, volunteer MAD Tool Library, David Appleton, vice president MAD Tool Library, Mathew Klein, secretary MAD Tool Library, Peter Giddings, secretary Community Bank Mallacoota, David Perry, vice president MAD Tool Library and Peter Jones, committee member MAD Tool Library. (PS)
