Recipients this year were: Camp Quality,  Cooinda, Darling Rural Fire Brigade, Elizabeth Gates Village, Future Achievements Australia, Gallipoli Scholarship, Hunter Life Education, Hunter New England Health, Junior Rugby League, Kakoda Scholarship, King Street School, Love Bites Program, Milbrodale Public School, Polio Eradication, Ronald McDonald House, Rotary Shelter Box, Senior Citizens Centre, Men’s Shed, Singleton Police Community Youth Club, Singleton RSL Sub Branch, Uniting Care Disability Respite, Hospital Auxiliary, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Witmore Enterprises and Youth Off The Streets. 

Since the introduction of Community Chest in 1982, Singleton Diggers has donated $2.2million to local and international charities.

In congratulating the initiative and the recipients, federal member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon said in addition to the monetary contribution, clubs played a major role in the social networks because they provided a place where people could meet.

Also in attendance was the state councillor for Clubs NSW, Jon Chin, praised the club movement and said they were all about the communities they worked within.

“I offer full credit to the board for the contribution they make to Singleton,” he said.

Mr Chin described the club’s general manager Gerard McMillan as one of the stalwarts of the club industry and said the Community Chest program was largely responsible for the statewide clubs benefit scheme now operating in most clubs in the state.

Mr Chin also took the opportunity to tell the audience about the upcoming Special Olympics of which Clubs NSW is a major sponsor.

Mr Chin said up to 5000 volunteers from across the Hunter would be required to run the event.