25 June 2014

Last night, Council unanimously supported bridging funding for The Venny. Council will immediately provide The Venny with $63,000, and invite The Venny to apply for further funding up to $63,000 later in the year as other funding opportunities become clearer.These two figures amount to the $126,000 cut without warning from The Venny’s 2014-15 budget by the Abbott Government, and are in addition to the ongoing annual funding from Council to the Venny ($146,000 in 2013-14).

Councillors received many letters of support from local residents, and Councillors familiar with special role that the one-of-a-kind Venny plays in the Kensington community were only too keen to support the motion.

Kensington residents Cr Wood, who drafted the motion and facilitated discussions with The Venny’s board, and the Greens’ Cr Leppert, moved and seconded the motion.

Cr Oke read from 9 year old Finn Reilly’s letter to the Lord Mayor during the debate:

Dear Lord Mayor, I would like if The Venny could keep on running – besides where would all those kids go if they could not go to The Venny? The impact on the community would be huge.

Long may The Venny thrive!

There will be a fundraiser for The Venny tomorrow night (Thursday 26 June 2014) at Local Folk cafe.