On !7 October, we had our AGM followed by a relaxed enjoyable shared ( Potluck) community dinner. I’d say we were very lucky, there are great cooks among us.
Annual Report 2025 -2026
"Sarsfield Plan 2030 in Review " gives focus to our priorities.
I’m starting with Developing our spaces as that’s where most of the challenge has been. It’s nearly 6 months since we Opened our new hall, at that event we recalled the process of arriving here, so I won't repeat the story.
The last year has been a massive journey: we very successfully operated out of our Foundation Shed, while our Hall was being built.
We were able to add value to our Hall and community space by the addition of the adult exercise equipment and an excellent music/ AV system. We added blinds to keep the sun out, a sophisticated Wi-Fi extension system so we have coverage over the oval, especially important if your phone plan is not on the Telstra network!
Improvements to road frontage – This was not included in the plan; however ideas and funds were found, and we were able to work with EGSC to improve the edge of the roadside as well as the Hall land.
We have lovely new fence on the far side of the oval.
The Shed has been divided into 2 useable spaces- the cricket room and an excellent storage space. We had two busy cooperative working bees to shift all the furniture and equipment back into the Hall and then a month or so later to empty the containers and neatly pack our storage shed.
The process of learning how to operate the Hall, whether it’s the alarm system, CCTV, the solar and generator, the dishwasher has been a challenge. Overall, our new Hall is an impressive beast, and we would like to invite you to help with some of these functions, help can be job specific and not require committee meetings.
Insurance: We led a campaign to convince the EGSC to continue to cover the Building Insurance on this facility. Currently Ok but future unclear.
Keeping Our Community Safe and Well
Community Disaster Plan:
Our successful Sparking Action Fire Ready Day hopefully gave some of our community more tools to keep their property and themselves safe.
This Hall gives us a facility to support Sarsfield through any future disasters but developing Sarsfield’s Plan _ Local Incident Management Plan is the next task for the coming year.
Fostering Identity: We have requested new Road signs for the Hall and Reserve waiting on Vic Roads and EGSC for that.
Building our prosperity and Support for local enterprise
Support for Sarsfield Cricket Club who are playing well and have new blood in the team to build at great Cricket Club.
We have Solar panels which are running the Hall – because we’ve been connected via 3 phase the process of being registered properly has been very slow, but we are hopeful this will be very positive and minimise any electricity bills.
Realising our potential. We are building revenue through casual hires which we hope can support community activities
It will take another year for us to see how the income compares to the costs in successfully running this space.
We are now able to offer public liability insurance for casual hire, thanks to Kate for her research skills.
Respecting our past
We have established a Reconciliation Action Plan as a step to encourage engagement with traditional owners.
Looking forward: There is a plan to reissue an updated version of our history: Sarsfield – A rural community by 2029. Another way new enthusiasm can be channelled.
Bringing People together
We now have our new space; this gives us an opportunity to host local activities and events. This can be done by people hiring the Hall and running functions or if we have some people with ideas and enthusiasm, the SCA would like to run community events.
The Women’s Space that was funded by Bushfire recovery now has an ongoing space to meet here. Some of this group as well as having a great time together, felt a sense of ownership and now schedule a time each month to have a mini-working bee looking after the new gardens.
As part of the process to report on the Dysons Grant which funded this last year, we asked the women who come what they’ve got out of it.
Since I moved here, I knew no one. When I joined Women’s Space, I found a
circle of friends and I found a job.
I could sit here and cry my eyes out and nobody judged me.
I come here to hear the weird and wonderful stories from others.
I feel like this gives me a group of people to go through life with.
I love coming here because I can tell all my woes.
I come here to escape all my woes.
I just enjoy the female company where I can let loose.
This is a place of really safe connection to share each other’s stories and the
future with other women.
I’m a bit on the lonesome side and my daughter harps at me to get out and
about, and this is the perfect place.
I knew nobody down here until I met these girls.
I just come here because I like to come.
A part of bringing people together is letting them know we’re here.
There have been ideas to develop a welcome letter to new residents: this is in the to do basket, but please tell anyone who moves here that the SCA and Reserve are our hidden treasure!
Our Facebook page is the fastest way to put information out, but we are aware not everyone follows FB these days. Also, we try and update the website and put out our Sarsfield Snippets Newsletter and help in this area would be appreciated.
What’s coming up:
First Aid Training on Saturday November 28 – a full accredited course on one day – thanks to Rotary
Twilight Market Saturday 9 January – please give your name to Marney if you’re able to help on the day or before.
Thank you and au revoir
I’d like to acknowledge the contribution both Virginia King and PatchCalvert have made to the SCA Committee, your generous contribution of time and ideas is really appreciated. We’d like to present you both with some lovely Sarsfield grown flowers as a thank you.
We also acknowledged the contribution made by all the committee and the other volunteers who keep the Sarsfield Hall and Reserve the hidden gem it is!
The new committee is Cathy McLellan President; Marney Kramme VP; Durelle Esnouf Treasurer; Kate Nelson Secretary. Helen Wilson, Kieran Benton, Wayne Gamble , Paul Andrews and Mary Rahilly are our General members.