The Poatina Golf Club has welcomed the arrival of a new tractor through the assistance of a grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF).

The $30,500 grant from the TCF was used to replace the club’s old tractor that was purchased in 1969 with a new Case IH Farmall tractor, which provides more features and flexibility.

With the Poatina Golf Club being run by volunteers, president Cyril Patmore said the tractor would help ease the workload and provide more workplace safety.

“The tractor will be a huge benefit to our ageing volunteer workforce in the maintenance of our course,” Mr Patmore said.

Mr Patmore said the tractor would not only benefit the club, but also the whole community in helping improve the Poatina area.

“It will also be used to help in maintenance and upkeep of the village gardens, parklands, and community walking and cycling tracks to enhance Poatina Village as a tourist destination,” he said.

The Poatina Golf Club offers services to Capstone College, with members volunteering their time to provide instruction and guidance in machinery maintenance, greens management and community-based projects.

Capstone College aims to help students aged 14 to 20 who are not currently in school continue with their education and return to a positive learning future.

Mr Patmore said the tractor would help the students at the college, who are at a disadvantage due to the remote location, increase their skill-base and confidence in tackling day to day maintenance situations associated with machinery and general landscaping requirements.

“The tractor will be used in horticulture sessions at Capstone College to the teach new skills to the children,” he said.

“The purchase of the tractor would not have been possible without the assistance of the TCF and we thank them very much.”

The Tasmanian Community Fund was established in 1999 following the sale of the Trust Bank. An independent funding body, the Fund provides grants to community organisations that make a difference by improving the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the Tasmanian community.