MOTORISTS travelling along the Princes Highway are being greeted with a new sight upon entering Sale.

Two signs advertising local non-profit groups have been erected at the northern and western ends of the city, replacing the outdated “Serving Sale” sign that previously welcomed visitors.

Projects and community officer for the Rotary Club of Sale, Kerry McMillan, has overseen the development of the new signs, having made it her mission to replace the old signage.

According to Ms McMillan, the project has taken more than a year to complete, with the two signs erected earlier this month at a cost of $6000.

“We had a bit of a miscommunication with (Wellington Shire) Council and VicRoads, so we had to start that process all over again; once we got it going again, it was great – didn’t take long, and then it was just a matter of getting the signs printed and done,” Ms McMillan said.

“Liaising with VicRoads and council is probably the biggest issue that I had, but they were great – they were really easy to deal with, (and) so supportive of having that sign resurrected.”

With community groups such as Footprints, Monday Tucker and Seed Community Garden all being promoted, Ms McMillan believes the signs have “much more relevance” than the one they replaced.

The manufacturing and installation of the Western sign – located in the same position as the old sign, across from the former Visitor Information Centre – was made possible through a grant from the Sale Greyhound Club.

Meanwhile, the Northern sign – placed near the bank of the Main Sale Channel – came about via a joint collaboration between Rotary and the Lions Club of Sale.

Ms McMillan said it was “great to see community groups working together” and hoped the project would foster other opportunities for collaboration.

She further noted that having a community sign to the north of Sale was a first for the town.

“It’s quite a way out, but I believe that the town is going to (develop) further that way, so that’s why it’s where it is,” Ms McMillan explained.

Ms McMillan indicated that Rotary was open to erecting identical signs along Sale-Maffra Road and the South Gippsland Highway. “We have talked about it, it’s just a matter of funding,” she said.

She also expressed her thanks to Adrian Rijs, who liaised with Sale’s various community groups to have their logos displayed.

Next on the agenda for the Rotary Club of Sale is a film screening tonight of The Lost King at Sale Cinema, which will serve as a fundraiser for Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” initiative.

For more information about the screening and tickets, call Sandra Houghton on 0428 649 243.