Fund boost for yacht club facility

Busselton will welcome a new $100,000 multipurpose marine facility by the year’s end following Geographe Bay Yacht Club’s success in two rounds of State Government funding.

The club was announced as a grant recipient in the 2017 South West Community Chest Fund program on Friday and will receive $49,927 to fit-out, furnish and purchase equipment for the new facility.

The grant complements $51,750 obtained in December through the Department of Sport and Recreation for construction of the building itself.

Club commodore Terry Compton said the new Geographe Bay Sailing and Marine Sports Youth Training Centre would replace the existing facility and would house clubrooms, a training centre and storage.

The new building is expected to be delivered about July, with the fit-out to be completed before the end of the year.

It will house a range of marine activities and programs including sailing, fishing, outrigger canoeing, paddling, power boat handling and water safety training programs.

Club secretary Barry Brown hoped the centre would help the Yacht Club unearth its next generation of members by adding to the facilities already available to junior sailors.

“We’ve got six ‘tackers’ (youth vessels) for the specific purpose of training children between the ages of seven and 12 ... and after that they can move up to something a little bigger and a bit more complex,” he said.

Ms Compton added it was a mentally and physically challenging activity, and urged parents to involve their children.

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam congratulated the club on its commitment to delivering the new facility.

“It is a credit to the committee members of the GBYC who have worked hard to obtain this funding in what is a very competitive funding stream,” she said.

For further information contact the club on 9752 2522 or email gbycbsn@westnet.com.au.