Media releases: 17 November 2015
Bendigo, 17 November 2015: The Monsanto Fund, in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, are delighted to announce the recipients of the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program.
The program gives cotton growers the chance to direct thirty $5,000 grants to worthy community groups across 14 cotton growing areas in New South Wales and Queensland. The announcement of the 2015 recipients means $300,000 of funding will have been directed to cotton growing communities in two years.
FRRR Acting Chief Executive Officer, Natalie Egleton, said cotton farmers living and working in rural and regional communities are best-placed to determine the groups and projects that can benefit from support like this the most.
“Cotton farmers have the best insight into who in their community could benefit from a grant and they are able to show their support for those groups and their work by nominating them.
“We were delighted to see cotton growers enthusiastically support the program again this year and nominate some fantastic projects that may never have gone ahead if not for this program. We saw last year that when projects funded by Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities are completed, local organisations are better able to do what they do best – focus on providing and supporting the wider community with their vital services,” Ms Egleton said.
Cotton Australia Chief Executive Adam Kay said Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities has the support of the cotton industry and the additional $150,000 in funding will go a long way in improving lives in cotton communities.
“These grants allow cotton farmers to give back to their communities and leave a lasting impact.
“Strong, vibrant cotton communities play a critical role in how successful our farmers are. This program is a great way for growers to say thanks to those groups or charities that are important to the community and be recognised for their hard work in a meaningful way,” Mr Kay said.
Monsanto Fund representative in Australia, Adam Blight, said that the Monsanto Fund is pleased to be able to support growers to give back to their communities for a second year.
“This year, the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program will be able to help build 11 infrastructure projects, fund five community education projects and support 11 disability, youth, health, social welfare, community broadcasting, environment and cultural projects across Queensland and New South Wales,” Mr Blight said.
Overall, infrastructure-related projects received the most funding this year with $55,000 to be distributed throughout cotton growing areas including the Central Highlands, Darling Downs, Macquarie and the Southern Valleys. Education projects received the second most funding with $40,000 aimed at improving local resources and equipment for children and local schools.
The projects funded are detailed below:
|
Organisation |
Project |
Cotton Growing Region |
|---|---|---|
|
Queensland | ||
|
Central Highlands Science Centre Inc |
Upgrading the interactive science displays used by the after school science club to extend learning opportunities for primary students. |
Central Highlands |
|
Comet Sporting & Agricultural Show Society |
Building new stairs with handrails at the Showgrounds to provide safe access to the pavilion where community events are held. |
Central Highlands |
|
C&K – Oakey Community Kindergarten |
Creating a productive vegetable garden to extend the teaching of sustainability, environment and nutrition in the early years. |
Darling Downs |
|
Felton Food Festival |
A one day event celebrating local farm production to support farming enterprises and emerging food producers and provide a tourism boost to the economy. |
Darling Downs |
|
Jandowae P-10 State School P&C Assoc |
An electronic whiteboard for the library to enable internet access for whole-class learning and a wireless loudspeaker for school and community events. |
Darling Downs |
|
CWA QLD – Macalister Branch |
Improving the small town’s CWA Hall kitchen to enable catering for community events and improve food preparation and OH&S standards for volunteers. |
Darling Downs |
|
Theodore Council on the Ageing Inc |
Industrial carpet cleaner to improve cleanliness and reduce overhead hire costs for community operated care facilities and services that benefit the elderly. |
Dawson Valley |
|
Dirranbandi Pastoral & Agricultural Assoc Inc |
Support for ten youth to learn show management skills at a state forum, to support Dirranbandi Show’s long term sustainability. Additional upgrades to computer software will make volunteer’s work easier. |
Dirranbandi |
|
Kaloma Home for the Aged Ltd |
Contribution towards a fire retardant sprinkler system which is urgently needed to ensure the aged care facilities meet OH&S standards to continue operations. |
MacIntyre Valley |
|
MacIntyre Animal & Pet Rescue |
Reduction in feral cats through the promotion of responsible pet ownership and a de-sexing program, as well as refurbishment of facilities to improve OH&S. |
MacIntyre Valley |
|
Texas & District Kindergarten Assoc Inc |
Repairs to plumbing and outdoor areas to improve OH&S at the small communities’ only kindergarten, enabling the paved area to be used for outside play and learning. |
MacIntyre Valley |
|
Balonne Kindergarten Assoc Inc |
Additional kindergarten class to enable 10 more local children (who would otherwise miss out) to access early childhood education. |
St George |
|
Thallon Progress Assoc Inc |
Kitchen facilities to increase functionality of the multipurpose community building and enable the establishment of a museum in the building. |
St George |
|
New South Wales | ||
|
Bourke & District Junior Cricket Assoc |
A mobile pavilion for the community use at Anzac, music, cultural and sporting events to encourage participation and improve OH&S. |
Darling River |
|
Fairview Care Ltd |
A patient lift to enable frail and elderly resident’s dignified movement around the facilities and improve OH&S for staff and residents alike. |
Gwydir Valley |
|
Moree Cultural Art Foundation Ltd |
Art supplies for classes which link disadvantaged people in the community with government support programs and benefit over 250 people per week. |
Gwydir Valley |
|
North Star Public School |
iPads and learning apps to enable students to master digital technology and expand learning opportunities. The resources will also be used in community workshops to upskill the broader population. |
Gwydir Valley |
|
Bellata War Memorial Hall Committee Inc |
A screen and projector to enable monthly movie nights in the community-owned hall which will increase social connectivity and community spirit. |
Lower Namoi |
|
Burren Junction P&C Assoc |
A specialist music, song, drama and dance teacher for one year to extend learning opportunities. Students will write and perform their own musical for the whole community. |
Lower Namoi |
|
Spring Ridge Preschool |
New fencing around the preschool to create a safe, secure environment and enable outdoor play and learning for the children. |
Lower Namoi |
|
CWA NSW – Collie Branch |
New doors on the only community building in Collie to improve access and OH&S for the many user groups, including CWA, playgroup, RFS, garden club and others. |
Macquarie |
|
CWA NSW – Narromine Branch |
Improvements to the CWA Hall’s kitchen so it meets food handling and OH&S standards. This will benefit the CWA volunteers and other hall users, including Break Thru Disability, an organisation which teaches people with disabilities how to cook and care for themselves. |
Macquarie |
|
Mungery Hall |
A large volume rainwater tank to supply the hall’s new bathroom facilities (the previous long drop system wasn’t plumbed). This upgrade will enable more events to be held at the hall and also improve drinking water supply. |
Macquarie |
|
Mungindi Hospital Auxiliary Inc |
A sofa bed in the Palliative Care Unit to enable visitors to stay overnight and patients to have their loved ones by their side during their final hours. |
Mungindi Water |
|
Coleambally Community Club Ltd |
Roof repairs on the small community’s only meeting rooms, preventing further internal damage and allowing the ongoing use of the hall for the whole community. |
Southern Valleys |
|
Cypress View Lodge Ltd |
Upgrades and refurbishment of the activities room and new seating in the television area to improve the everyday comfort, enjoyment and quality of life for residents in the small town’s not-for-profit nursing home. |
Southern Valleys |
|
Griffith Community FM Assoc Inc |
New facilities to provide access to drinking water, a kitchenette and secure office storage, to support volunteers in a safe working environment and keep local voices on air. |
Southern Valleys |
|
Farming for Kids Inc |
Support for a small grass roots farmer initiative to enable them to expand operations and continue to support local schools and children in need of financial assistance. |
Upper Namoi |
|
Rowena Public School |
Establish a school community garden to improve student’s understanding of food production and healthy eating. The project will also engage the small community and surrounding farmers in school volunteer roles, providing them with regular off-farm social interaction. |
Upper Namoi |
|
Walgett Show Society Inc |
Improvements to the pavilion and the amenities block to meet OH&S standards so the facilities can continue to be used for community events and are accessible for everyone. |
Walgett |
