News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program grants awarded

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Media releases: 18 June 2020

Nearly $370,000 in grants for bushfire-affected communities

News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program

Bendigo, 18 June 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), in partnership with News Corp Australia, has awarded $368,386 to support 21 projects across the country that will help in the recovery of rural, regional and remote communities impacted by the summer bushfires.

Funded through the News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program, these grants, which are up to $25,000 each, will help address a diverse range of needs including improving social connectedness, enhancing community spirit and increasing community preparedness.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, says for many of these communities, social and economic recovery is really only just starting to get underway, especially given the limitations imposed by COVID-19.

“From our experience supporting disaster-affected communities, we know that for those affected by this summer’s bushfires, their recovery will be a long and ongoing process. Communities need access to funding now, and into the medium to long-term. Our partnership with News Corp is a great opportunity to get funds on the ground,” said Ms Egleton.

“Their support means these grants will enable local community groups to lead local recovery efforts in a way that best meets the priorities of that community, because it’s different for each impacted community.

“For some communities, the priority is rebuilding facilities lost in the fire, such as the Eurobodalla Wood Makers Guild building in Batemans Bay. For others it’s reviving the community’s arts and culture, like celebrating the local music scene in Mallacoota, and for others it’s about supporting mental health and wellbeing, through gardening projects that will also restore the local bee population in the Bega Valley.”

Penny Fowler, Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador says there was a wide range of applications, but a particularly strong demand for infrastructure and equipment to rebuild impacted regions.

“Communities in regional and rural Australia have been hit by so much devastation this year. We are delighted to provide some hope and bring the spirit back into communities with these bushfire grants.

“We hope our grants for community-led projects will help people recover and rebuild.  We look forward to partnering with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal to support and help bushfire affected areas become stronger communities.”

Some of the 21 projects awarded include:

  • Capricorn Film Festival Inc, QLD – Mentoring Our Region – $25,000 – Support lifelong learning and enable communities to tell their stories through a creative mentoring project that will create and screen locally made films.
  • Eden Whalers Australian Football Club Inc, NSW – Evacuation Centre Emergency Upgrades – $10,000 – Build community resilience and preparedness with evacuation centre equipment for the new pavilion.
  • Friends of the One and All Sailing Ship Incorporated, SA – Sail for Recovery – $22,500 – Support individual and community wellbeing to enable the learning of coping strategies and self-management in recovery.
  • Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Club Incorporated, VIC – Purchase of Defibrillator – $2,850 – Support community wellbeing and preparedness with access to life saving equipment.

A second round of the News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program will open 1 July. In total, there is a further $630,000 available. Applications are invited from community groups ins Local Government Areas with a bushfire disaster declaration from September 2019 to January / February 2020.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.

Organisation

Project & Summary

Location

Grant

Eurobodalla Woodcraft Guild Incorporated Rebuilding the Eurobodalla Woodies

Strengthen and support community volunteering by rebuilding the fire-destroyed workshop.

Batemans Bay, NSW

$25,000

Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club Inc Lifesaving Equipment for Bermagui SLSC

Build the capacity and strengthen a local volunteer community group to increase safety, and support of emergency services.

Bermagui, NSW

$19,900

Buxton Public School P&C Association Through Play Comes Recovery

Support community resilience and individual and community wellbeing through access to play equipment.

Buxton, NSW

$25,000

Bumbalong Valley Progress Association Bumbalong Valley Community Facility

Strengthen the local community in their recovery by rebuilding a facility for all to access.

Cooma, NSW

$21,040

Eden Service and Social Club Inc Purchasing a Generator

Build organisational capacity in the volunteer community group to raise funds and support events.

Eden, NSW

$2,349

Eden Whalers Australian Football Club Inc Evacuation Centre Emergency Upgrades

Build community resilience and preparedness with evacuation centre equipment for the new pavilion.

Eden, NSW

$10,000

Arts Mid North Coast Arts for Recovery

Develop and deliver a creative recovery arts projects in fire-impacted areas and report on how art and creative recovery can best be incorporated into emergency planning and responses.

Moorland, NSW

$15,500

Manning River Agricultural and Horticultural Society Providing Additional Power and Water Outlets

Support community resilience and preparedness by enhancing the facility for community and evacuation activities.

Taree, NSW

$19,960

Wellways Australia Limited RECOVERY – Our Community, Our People, Our Bees

Promote inclusion, engagement and recovery through sustainable eco-programs for whole-of-community development and benefit.

Bega, NSW

$25,000

Capricorn Film Festival Inc Mentoring Our Region

Support lifelong learning and enable communities to tell their stories through a creative mentoring project that will create and screen locally made films.

Gladstone, QLD

$25,000

Friends of the One and All Sailing Ship Incorporated Sail for Recovery

Support individual and community wellbeing through teaching coping strategies and self-management in recovery.

Kangaroo Island, SA

$22,500

Riviera Care The Armoury

Build the capacity of the community centre with a facility upgrade enabling programs for local skill development and an environment that promotes positive mental health, friendship and personal growth.

Bairnsdale, VIC

$18,923

Corryong Neighbourhood House Inc Out & About

Enabling a local community youth program’s activities through purchasing an equipment trailer that will also be available for locals to utilise.

Corryong, VIC

$13,450

Genoa Public Hall Repairing Fire-Damaged Fences and Entry at Genoa Public Hall

Building capacity in the community by making critical repairs to important local infrastructure used for meetings and emergency evacuation.

Genoa, VIC

$19,492

Lakes Entrance Action & Development Association Inc Lakes Entrance – Entrance Walk

Build community resilience by upgrading the footbridge at the Entrance Walk and undertaking environmental rehabilitation, which will support locals and tourism.

Lakes Entrance, VIC

$24,100

Lindenow Sports Ground Management Committee Incorporated Cool Room Installation

Build organisational capacity through upgrading the facility with a new cool room to improve operations and reduce costs.

Lindenow, VIC

$22,363

Mallacoota Community Health Infrastructure and Resilience Fund Incorporated Out of the Ashes – Mallacoota’s Musical Revival

Contribute to a culturally vibrant community by supporting a community-led healing project for recovery.

Mallacoota, VIC

$24,938

Mallacoota Hall and Recreation Committee Marquees for Outdoor Events

Enable social connection and support community participation in outdoor activity through increased equipment for events.

Mallacoota, VIC

$7,020

Kiewa Valley Community Radio Inc Employment of a Marketing & Sponsorship Manager

Build capacity of Alpine Radio (community radio) to support business development and local services continuity by enhancing the marketing capability of the station.

Mount Beauty, VIC

$6,000

Community Broadcasting Foundation Specialist Journalist Training for Reporting Trauma Events

Promote individual and community wellbeing through developing expertise and resilience for broadcasters.

Bairnsdale, VIC
Mallacoota, VIC
Moruya, NSW and Braidwood, NSW

$18,000

Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Club Incorporated Purchase of Defibrillator

Support community wellbeing and preparedness by improving access to life saving equipment.

Orbost, VIC

$2,850