FOLKC Book

SUPPORTERS
MILLERS INN
In 2002, after HBCC had decided not to fund the ‘Hobsons Bay Kororoit Creek
Masterplan (HBKCM)’, I approached General Manager of Millers Inn, Stewart
Naismith, who subsequently volunteered to fund the masterplan in the interests of
launching FOLKC’s concepts for Kororoit Creek from ideas into reality.
The popular gaming venue’s management was very pleased to be part of the FOLKC
plan and indicated an interest in continuing to sponsor FOLKC activities into the future.
This funding proved to be the first of many annual sponsorship packages FOLKC has
received from Millers Inn over the years – a sponsorship that has allowed our group
great flexibility in responding to local environmental needs, and to better be able to
plan and develop activities, free of the usual financial constraints. Financing FOLKC’s
purchase of our own vehicle is just one example of the way in which Millers Inn’s support
has significantly and meaningfully improved our autonomy and functionality since our
partnership formed.
Once the Millers Inn cheque for the masterplan had been presented to HBCC, the
council agreed to co-fund the development of the HBKCM. The masterplan was finally
adopted as official policy in 2006. Our first HBKCM planting sponsored by Millers
Inn was held in 2002, when FOLKC volunteers planted trees, shrubs, groundcovers and
wetland plants all along the Burgess Street tributary.
FOLKC’s Millers Inn sponsored Toyota 4WD-ute
Millers Inn’s continuing FOLKC sponsorship has allowed us the freedom to allocate
funds to expedite projects, whereas time and money constraints have slowed the
processes of many other Friends Groups in Hobsons Bay. Our sponsored ability to
order special equipment and employ additional labour for work beyond the scope and
capability of FOLKC members has been vital to the success of our group.
In 2004, Millers Inn sponsorship allowed FOLKC to buy its first off-road vehicle – a
second-hand Toyota Hilux Four–Wheel Drive utility truck.
This truck revolutionised FOLKC’s activities in and around the Kororoit Creek green
corridor, allowing us vehicular access with necessary tools and materials into areas
previously only accessible if we paid to hire a specialised vehicle, freeing up enormous
chunks of our budgets for projects.
Millers Inn General
Manager Stewart
Naismith (left) with
HBCC Mayor Bill
Baarini in 2007
Each year, FOLKC has presented our annual ‘Ray Blythman Memorial Life Membership’
awards and celebrated our successes at Christmas with dinners held at Millers Inn, as
part of the sponsorship package.
FOLKC has been enormously proud and privileged to have had Millers Inn as its major
sponsor over these many years, and we acknowledge and thank Stewart Naismith and
the management for their on-going support and belief in the work our organisation
has accomplished for the local community. It is fair to say that, without Millers Inn,
FOLKC may not have been able to achieve as much as we have done along the Kororoit
Creek environmental corridor.
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