And, he is supported by two of Muswellbrook’s clubs – the RSL Club, and the Workers Club.

On Thursday, each club presented Mr Pahuru with a cheque for $4,000 to help build the corporation, as part of their larger grant applications program.

Muswellbrook and District Workers Club manager Scott Bailey said the clubs’ joint committee formed in September, 2016, to asses the larger grant applications requirement for all the clubs in the shire.

“We’re required to make charitable donation as part of our gaming tax payment,” he said.

“Sadly some of the grants are so large that one club can’t solely fund them.

“So, we come together three times a year to discuss the larger grants.”

Muswellbrook RSL Club CEO Daryl Egan said the joint donations were in addition to each club’s individual sponsorship.

“There are some cases where we [support] the same organisation but with separate payments,” he said.

Mr Pahuru said the total donation of $8,000 would be used specifically for the organisation’s office system and Information Technology.

He said it meant a lot to the corporation in terms of their future goals.

“By the end of the July, our office systems will be up and running, and they will be so much more than they are now,” he said.

“This is going a long way to covering these costs.

“Our office is at 180 Bridge Street.

“[We support] Singleton out to Merriwa, up to Murrurundi, and everything in between.

“So eventually we’ll end up managing community housing right across there.

“On behalf of our committee at Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation, I’d just really like to thank the grants committee for their generous donation.”

Mr Bailey said from the committee’s point of view they hoped to make a series of announcements once every three or four months regarding co-funded projects.

“So people can put their applications in to either club and we’ll discuss it and take it to the committee and work out what we’re going to do,” added Mr Egan.

For more information about Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation, contact 6543 1180 or office@hvabcorp.org.au