THE COLLINSVILLE Lions Club is hosting Community BBQs at the RV park for the third year in a row.
Every Monday night, the Lions Club set up shop at the RV park and host a BBQ during the Grey Nomads’ season.
The Grey Nomads season is when retirees travel Australia throughout winter in a 4WD, caravan, campervan or similar ‘home on the road’ vehicle.
The Community BBQ is popular among travellers and is a great way to attract people to Collinsville in the colder months.
At the ordinary council meeting, in Bowen, on Wednesday, June 28, council voted to offer a $1,500 donation to the Collinsville Lions Club to support the BBQs.
“So, the money goes towards the steak, sausages, onion, sauce and added extras that we use to give the RV park visitors a feed on Monday nights during the Grey Nomad season in Collinsville,” club secretary Marissa Kearney said.
“We also have Glencore donating towards this as well. We can feed up to 50 people when the season is in full swing. We started this year, on May 22, 2023, and will continue for 16 weeks.
“We also keep records of the number of visitors, their hometown and if they have ever been before. Brett Murphy comes down and chats with the visitors during the night. Sometimes a member of Glencore comes and socialises also.”
Council assisted with a donation of $1,950, in 2022, and $1,500, in 2021.
In 2023, Collinsville Lions Club asked for a donation of $2,055 due to the increased cost of living.
Officers recommended a donation of $1,000 but several councillors voiced their wishes to offer more.
“After speaking with Collinsville Lions Club, the have asked for $2,000, they have asked if they could get as close to that as possible, so I have been thinking another $500 and Glencore can chip in to get them to that,” Cr Michelle Wright said.
“Without the donation, it doesn’t allow them to continue to have these BBQs and they are a benefit to the community.”
Cr Jan Clifford was also supportive of increasing the donation.
“I’m fully supportive of bumping it to the $1,500, the Lions Club in Collinsville is just fabulous, and they do great work and I’m more than happy to support them,” she said.
