Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Media releases: 18 June 2020
Nearly $370,000 in grants for bushfire-affected communities
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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 |
