New kitchen for Bingara Showground
Bingara Show Society will soon be cooking up a storm after they were recently awarded a brand new kitchen.
Each year the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) Foundation offers a community organisation in regional NSW the chance to win a kitchen donated by Masters Home Improvements that has been used as the demonstration kitchen at the Sydney Royal Show.
Bingara Show Society was unsuccessful in their application last year but were determined to reapply in 2015.
For the first time the RAS Foundation were able to donate two kitchens with both Young and Bingara show societies, receiving a kitchen worth $30,000.
Secretary of the Bingara Show Society, Robyn Phillips undertook the application process on behalf of Bingara Show Society and was very pleased with the final result.
“Applicants were asked to provide how such a kitchen could impact on their community and outline the benefits to the community, what it would mean to the town and which groups in the community would benefit,” Robyn told the Advocate.
“The existing kitchen in the Bingara Showground consists of old second hand items that date back almost to the wood stove era. There is inadequate bench and storage space, and the whole kitchen requires an upgrade.”
From over 90 applications, Bingara Show Society made it to the final three and was interviewed at length by a panel of five. According to RAS Foundation executive officer, Kate Ross, both Young and Bingara stood out to the judges from the 90 applications.
“The Young Showground recently had a pavilion destroyed by arson, and in the fire they lost the kitchen they had fundraised for many years to put in. The community was devastated by the loss of this important community asset,” Ms Ross said.
“Similarly, the Bingara community has also faced recent hardships, enduring one of the worst droughts in more than 50 years.
The showground facilities are consistently used by organisations and individuals throughout the year and the new kitchen will be a fabulous asset to the community.
As trustee for the Bingara Showground, Gwydir Shire Council will manage the project of installing the new kitchen and aims to have it ready for Pony Camp in September.
