On Saturday morning, the Lions Club held an official unveiling for their new ‘Catering for Community’ trailer.

Lion’s club member Rod Stanford said it had been a long process to raise the $38,000 needed to purchase the trailer.

“At the 14/15 changeover our main commitment was to get this catering trailer,” Mr Stanford said.

“We had no idea how we’d raise the money but particularly had to look for grants.”

Former Bowling Club general manager Michael Jones was the first to offer funding support.

The club then struck a deal with Ascent Group to aid in their drought relief events around the shire.

In return the Armidale-based organisation would chip in $10,000.

“That really gave us a shot in the arm,” Rod said.

The group failed in an attempt to snare $24,000 through the NSW Government’s Building Community Partnerships initiative.

Lions kicked in $8,000 from their own “war chest” and then received $9,000 from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

“We then thought to throw it out to local businesses and got really good responses.”

Tenterfield Bowling Club, Tenterfield Golf Club, New England Credit Union, Harold Curry, Tenterfield Timber and Hardware, Tenterfield Hardware and Garden Centre, Darryl McCarthy Constructions, Sexton and Green, DTB Fabrications and Tenterfield Shire Council all contributed to sponsorship.

In the end the club raised enough to purchase the catering trailer which had its first outing at the Christmas in the Park event.

“We’ll use it in the community, at fundraisers for the club, in tough times if something goes wrong like fire or flood. We’re open to use it for private functions too,” Rod said.

Next up, the club are working away to secure grant funding to house the trailer in an extended shed at Rugby League Park.

“We need $10,000 to extend that.

“The business support for all this has been amazing, overwhelming and we’re really thankful to all,” Rod said.