HISTORY OF EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK

THE ROTARY CLUB OF EAGLEHAWK EMBARK ON A YOUTH PROJECT IN THE EARLY 2000S WHICH SAW THEM SPEAK WITH STUDENTS AT EAGLEHAWK SECONDARY COLLEGE IN REGARDS WHAT THEY LOVE IN THE EAGLEHAWK COMMUNITY. THEY SUGGESTED A SKATE PARK WHICH IS NOW CALLED THE “MCKERN SKATE PARK”.

IN 2005, THE ROTARY CLUB OF EAGLEHAWK WAS CONTACTED BY THE BENDIGO BANK TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 3556 COMMUNITY WHICH SAW A FOUNDATION FORMED. BENDIGO BANK CUSTOMERS COULD CONNECT THEIR ACCOUNTS AND LOANS TO EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK. THIS WAS AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THERE WERE MANY CHALLENGES INCLUDING GETTING CITIZENS OF EAGLEHAWK LINKING THEIR BENDIGO BANK ACCOUNTS OR LOANS TO EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK.

IN 2006, EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK WAS BORN WITH FOUNDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ROSS MITCHELL, NOEL CLARIDGE, TRICIA SPENCE, BRIAN DAVEY, MARY PRESTON, GORDAN AND MICHAEL MCKERN, PETER KRENZ, NADIA MCCOMB AND PHIL KERR. ONE OF FOUNDING MEMBERS NADIA MCCOMB, WAS A YEAR 9 STUDENT WHO CAME ONTO THE COMMITTEE WITH FORMER PRINCIPAL AT EAGLEHAWK SECONDARY COLLEGE NOEL CLARIDGE. EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK HAS BUILT STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH EAGLEHAWK SECONDARY COLLEGE TO BRING YOUTH VOICE ONTO THE COMMITTEE.

EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK HAS RAISED OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WITH BENDIGO BANK, BENDIGO TELCO, EVERGREEN WATERS AND IGA. WITHOUT THE HELP FROM THESE PARTNERS, EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN HELPING MAJOR PROJECTS INCLUDING THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CANTERBURY PARK PRESCIENT, OUR NEW LOCAL PLAY SPACE AND 100S OF OTHER PROJECTS AROUND THE 3556 COMMUNITY.

IN 2023, EMPOWERING EAGLEHAWK CONTINUES TO BE A DRIVING FORCE IN THE LOCAL 3556 COMMUNITY WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO DRIVE GRANTS, YOUTH AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.