Farmers’ Market - Last market raised over $100 ? and the previous raised over $250?  Thanks to Ray and Marj who manned the end of Jan.  Market on their own.  A huge effort!

Community Market – Last market raised $241, bbq $49, (mainly drinks), shed $165, kitchen $27.  Thanks to all helpers.

Raffles - The Rotary raffle  raised $374.40.  Thanks to everyone who took a book and to Ron, Terry and Alan who sat down the Mall for a day in very hot weather.  This was a last minute organised event as we only found out Tuesday pm that we could have the car in the Mall the next day.

Would you buy a ticket from these unlikely lads?

IGA supermarket and Haintz Pharmacy - These two businesses support BECS by a token scheme (IGA) and a rebate on prescriptions(Haintz).  Members and their families are encouraged to support these businesses.

New Members - We have a number of new members join in recent days.  Please make them welcome and get to know them.  Many have interesting stories to tell.  It is encouraging to see new members actively involved and taking initiative in projects.

Music Group - Four videos have now been uploaded to our website of the Christmas breakup.

Art Classes – Resume on Monday 17th February.  We have had a number of enquiries over the holidays . . . so best of luck Len . . . you may have to start a waiting list!

BBQ Helpers - Thank you to all those who have helped on the bbq’s this month and those who helped with the Fiona Elsey Bike Ride last Sunday.

Workshop - Thanks to the guys who have completed the last trailer.  A crew came in on a Wednesday to paint the Bridge Mall Christmas trees.  These have now been covered and stored in the container.  We still need to replace 10 sides of trees. Can someone remind us every day at the shed until this is finished.  We don’t want to leave this till next Christmas.  The surface grinder has been relocated.  We are still waiting to get this wired.  Richard G has made more potting tables for the Friends of the Bot.  Gardens, Steve H has made another rocking horse, Len C and Lynton R have shortened a table, Ron L has made a footstool, Ken P has made a bookshelf, Ken P and Ron L have made blocks and thanks to Judith who made a bag for the blocks.

Below are photos of the cubby house completed before Christmas.  Please note the children are not real.  If they were real we would need permission to print their image because of confidentiality! . . . but because they are not real we do not need permission.  This week we have picked up a large lot of lining boards so we might look to make another couple of cubby houses.

New BECS clothing - We have a new supply of shirts, jackets, hats etc.  Please see Denis C if you are interested in ordering some of these items.
Grants – Water supply upgrade.  Doug S has agreed to manage this project and we will start as soon as possible.  This may mean a temporary disruption to parking in the back yard.

Last Thursday the Ballarat Rotary Club presented a cheque for $5,000 for our wet area upgrade.  We had asked for $4,200 but as last year’s Springfest was a huge success (90,000 compared to 60,000 last year) Rotary had more funds to disperse.  We again thank all those volunteers who helped prior to and on the day of Springfest.

Ute update - Nothing to report as yet.

Battery Drive - I encourage everyone to take some leaflets and a street direction letter.  We will have a prize for the most successful battery collector – 1 point for small batteries, 2 points for large.  You would need to notify us to update your figures and if you need the ute or help to pick up batteries – please ask.  The first time we did a serious battery collection we raised $8,000 so if we all put in a big effort there is every chance we can cover a substantial part of the $17,000 shortfall in this financial year.

Health and Safety Committee – We have formed an OH&S Committee headed by Ron L to look over our facility and  machinery, and the capacity of members to be operating particular machines.  More to follow later.

Sick List - Ted D needs to have a maintenance job done.  I hope you get seen to soon.  A couple of members are struggling at the moment.  We wish you well.  We also have some members who are going on holiday so we wish you safe travels.

We were sad to hear of the passing of Percy Williams who was a member for a short time.  Also our sympathy to Steve H and Toni on the passing of Steve’s dad Dr Roger Horton.

The Begonia Parade – Will be held this year on Monday 10th March ( the long weekend).  We have again agreed to participate.  This will be the last year for the 3 little pigs float so if you can find a buyer for this after the parade it would be much appreciated!

Gekko Systems – Thanks to Gekko for allowing us to have our Feb.  Meeting at their site.  Thanks also to Richard L and Peter V for showing us around.  With all the doom and gloom in the news at the moment it is good to see a local success story exporting worldwide!