Welcome to the Swan Hill & Kerang Toyota Gratitude Project
What is the Gratitude Project? The Gratitude Project has been created as a vehicle for the owners of Swan Hill & Kerang Toyota to give back to their community, customers and staff.
Who does it involve? Swan Hill is approximately 4 hours drive from Melbourne along the Murray River. With the surrounding districts, Swan Hill & Kerang Toyota services a large rural area with a total population of over 30,000. Kerang is a smaller population centre around 45 minutes away from Swan Hill, and is on the direct route to Melbourne.
Isolation, drought and economic cut backs has affected the community’s livelihood, but certainly not its spirits. The strong emphasis on family and community makes it a wonderful, warm and welcoming place to settle and raise a family.
Life centres on the football (AFL) & netball in the winter and cricket in the summer. (We love our footy!) In addition, there are regular community events and proud rural traditions that bring visitors into the Region. Almost every weekend you can find the town full of life; occupied with horse racing, lawn bowls, agricultural events, tennis, tractor pulling, speedway racing, cultural activities, open days, wrestling, school events, golf, concerts, fun-runs, car clubs, fishing, boating, kayaking or waterskiing. There is something for everyone!
Primarily farming country, we are constantly at the mercy of the weather. 2009 will be our fifth year of drought. The local farmers maintain their stoic cheerfulness in the face of one of the most difficult jobs there is. Local produce includes nectarines, plums, apricots, peaches, grapes, wine olives and olive oil, almonds, pistachios, roses, lavender, mandarins, oranges, lemons and their associated by-products Cattle, sheep and grain producers add to the profile of the local farming community.
The diversity of products and the timing of their respective harvests mean that there is always something going on in and around the town.
Why Gratitude? Sebastian and Rebecca Parseghian are proud local residents, who moved to the area over 2 years ago. They say:
“It is the best thing we ever did! Our famly is happier and healthier. We enjoy our time together and instead of working 7 days a week, (as we did in Melbourne,) we now actually have a life. We get out and about, see people and enjoy our country lifestyle and community involvement.
We live in Lake Boga –a town that is rich in history and local significance. Our lake has dried up due to the drought, and the town misses out on the once active recreational and tourist opportunities that were alive and centred on the lake. Our son attended the Lake Boga Primary school and was school captain in 2008. We can’t wait for the revival of the lake – we’ve heard so much about the water sports and the summer fun by the lake. We look forward to particpating in that fun, in due course.
We are a locally owned family-run business, and the success and survival of the community is vital to our business. We employ seventeen locally based staff and their support and employment is critical, not only for our own business, but for the health of the communtiy.
We don’t take our business for granted. We are grateful for the support of our staff, our customers, and for the welcome we have received in the community at large. We have a sense of belonging and shared interest in the wellbeing and growth of this great community of ours.
As a token of that gratitude and appreciation we strive to support and sponsor local events, organisations and causes where we are able. We hope, in turn, when it comes time to buy your next vehicle, new or used, or for your servicing needs,(we service all makes and models) or genuine Toyota parts, (the only authorised genuine stockist in the local area), you will consider buying local. Consider supporting the only Toyota dealership that suports OUR local community. You will be glad you did.”
Some of the locally based organisations we support:
Australian Inland Wine Show
Balranald Racing Club
Elevate Youth Program
Festa Carmine
Kerang Jockey Club
Kerang Ten-Pin Bowling Competitions
Lake Boga Bowls Club
Lake Boga Cricket Club
Lake Boga Football Club
Lake Boga Primary School
Mallan Primary School
Mallee Rally
Moulamein Pre-School
Moulamein Football Club |
Murray Downs Golf Club
Relay for Life
SES
Swan Hill Basketball Association
Swan Hill Bowls Club
Swan Hill Business Network
Swan Hill New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Swan Hill Primary School
Swan Training
Tooleybuc Good Friday Appeal
Ultima Football & Netball Club
Woorinen Football & Netball Club
Quambatook Tractor Pull |
And the list is growing. Thanks for your support. We look forward to seeing you in the dealership or out and about in the community.
Sebastian, Rebecca and Mason Parseghian |