By Tyler Wright
The Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club has recently purchased a new steamer and oven to upgrade the Olinda-Monbulk Road hub’s kitchen and canteen.
$25,000 raised by the annual club lotto, the Olinda Ferny Creek Junior Football Club and the Olinda Cricket Club has contributed to the purchase and upcoming installation while will assist club volunteers in serving the 80 to 100 meals they dish out every Thursday night for club dinners.
The club lotto, run by the Olinda Ferny Creek Senior Football Club, sees $10 put into the club every week from 86 participants.
Former Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club president and commercial builder Chris Hill is set to install the oven and steamer when time permits.
Mick Hill, Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club current President, said the new resources will help preparing food and for volunteers who serve meals every week and an upgrade to the facility was a “no-brainer”.
“You might get soup and a parma with chips, salad and some veggies [on a Thursday]; and then other times you might get lasagna with that and different foods; good meals at a reasonable price, but we’ve got to make life easier [for volunteers],” Mick said.
“Carey Williams who’s been the mainstay in all things cooking [at the club] for a number of years – she’s over the moon [and] very excited,” Mick said.
“Carey’s [the] secretary as well – she’s big cog in how the club runs.”
The two ovens currently used by club members and volunteers are roughly nine years old and struggle to meet the demand of club dinners, Mick added.
“When [volunteers] work their butt off and they can actually see money raised going back into help them that makes them happy – and we’re happy,” he said.
Mick Hill also thanked all parties involved for their generosity.
