UPGRADES to the Milawa community’s local squash courts will benefit to the tune of more than $2000, as the club continues to cash in on the fundraising opportunities presented by the Wangaratta Community Raffle.

The initiative, which is coordinated by the Rotary Club of Appin Park Wangaratta and sees local clubs and community groups recoup $3 from every $5 ticket they sell, has proved a major boon for the Milawa Racquets Club, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in the township.

The club currently caters to around 110 members, and offers weekly senior and junior competitions, with the courts largely in use up to five times a week.

Committee member Robyn Snowdon said members had raised $2205 by selling tickets during this year’s community raffle, which she said would be put towards replacing the facility’s 50-year-old kitchen cupboards.

“I think it’s extremely important and we’re so lucky to have this opportunity to have this fundraiser – we don’t have many fundraisers and it just gives us an opportunity to upgrade some of the facilities,” she said.

“We have a competition all year-round and we’ve just started the current competition – it’s a great family atmosphere and we encourage the juniors to come up as well and teach them.

“It’s extremely important to upgrade the facilities competently to reflect our values and present well to the community.”

The construction of the squash courts began in 1971 and first opened in 1972, with a 50th anniversary celebration held belatedly last year to acknowledge the community which so regularly flocked to the facilities.

Milawa Racquets Club secretary Mark Wright said it was pleasing to see the club thriving.

“(It was) obviously built by local people for local people, so the committee’s very keen to keep this thing rolling,” he said.

“As squash clubs all across Victoria are struggling, Milawa is kicking on which is good and that’s because of the upgrades and the work everyone does there.

“It’s a big push from us to keep this thing going.”

The winners of the community raffle will be drawn tonight, with the major prize winner walking away with a 2024 Mitsubishi ASX GS valued at $28,000, while second place will receive a $4400 accommodation and travel package from Travel and Cruise North East.