By Lexi Cottee
The directors of Taylors Lakes’ Watergardens Hotel hope their first annual donation of $20,000 to the Brimbank Community Fund will help reduce rates of school non-
attendance.
One of the hotel’s three directors, Alexander Robertson, announced this week it would donate $20,000 yearly to the Brimbank Community Fund, a charitable trust that seeks donations,
with the interest used to fund community projects.
A recent council study showed the city
has one of the highest rates in the nation of
school non-attendance within the five-to- 10-years age bracket. According to the study, about 2000 10-year-olds do not attend school.
“We felt an obligation to the communities where we have a hotel – it’s not a one-way street,” Mr Robertson said.
Donations made to the community fund before June 30, 2014, were matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000 by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. To the council’s delight, the payment from Watergardens Hotel was made before the cut-off, doubling the donation.
The hotel is legally required under its licensing obligations to provide $10,000 annually for community benefit.
