Nearly $140,000 in grants for bushfire-affected communities

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Media releases: 25 June 2020

Twelve projects funded for bushfire recovery

25 June 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded $138,815 in grants for 12 community-led projects in rural, regional and remote communities impacted by the Summer bushfires, through its Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.

SRC is a grant program that aims to help rural communities across Australia by providing flexible funding for projects that support broad community needs. In total, this round of SRC saw 89 community projects across Australia share in $912,986 in grants.

While FRRR is not yet formally running the bushfire stream of SRC, the organisation made the call to fund a number of applications that were for bushfire recovery projects using donations received from a variety of donors over the summer. Through this funding, nine bushfire recovery projects in NSW shared in $97,910 in grants and three projects in Victoria shared in $40,905 in grants.

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, says that despite ongoing uncertainty as a result of COVID-19, it’s vital to keep funds flowing into regional areas.

“Many rural and remote communities have been hit hard by droughts, floods and bushfires and are stretched to the limit when it comes to coping with the economic impacts and additional pressures caused by COVID-19. We recognise that some of the projects may need to be changed to respond to COVID-19, but we wanted to get funding out to communities so that they can adapt and adjust as needed, especially as recovery starts.

“This is particularly relevant for bushfire-affected communities who have experienced the ‘double whammy’ with COVID-19. For this reason, FRRR made the call to fund a number of applications that were for bushfire recovery projects using donations received from a variety of donors over the summer. While FRRR is not yet formally running the bushfire stream of SRC, 12 bushfire recovery grants totalling $138,815, have been awarded as part of this round,” said Ms Egleton.

These grants will go towards helping bushfire affected communities to reduce social isolation, improve community connectedness and boost the local economy through workshops and festivals to help rebuild the economy. Several grants also went toward supporting community resilience and disaster preparedness through resourcing and education, and improving community infrastructure.

Some of the 12 bushfire recovery projects awarded this round include:

• Bruthen and District Neighbourhood House, Bruthen and District Citizens Association Inc, Bruthen, NSW – Holistic Community Well-being and Resilience – $25,000 – Support volunteer capacity and bushfire recovery by increasing community engagement through the employment of a community worker.
• Lifeline Central West Incorporated, Dubbo, NSW – Rapid Community Support Program – $9,000 – Support individual and community resilience in Central West communities by providing funding for Lifeline crisis response workshops.
• Bobin School of Arts Incorporated, Bobin, VIC – The Bobin COMA – $24,983 – Strengthen the resilience of the Bobin community by providing an outdoor shaded area at the Bobin School of Arts Hall, which will also enhance its amenity as a bushfire-evacuation centre.

The SRC program is collaboratively supported by a number of generous donors including: Australia Post, Bertalli Family Foundation, John T Reid Charitable Trusts, Sidney Myer Fund, Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, The Yulgilbar Foundation, Westpac Group, The Sylvia & Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, Baxter Charitable Foundation, The William Buckland Foundation  Portland House Foundation, The Ross Trust, R.M.Williams, Estate Late Gordon Harold Jones, FRRR and Private Donors.

The bushfire recovery grants are funded thanks to donations from Australian Community Media’s South Coast is Calling initiative, Nelson Alexander Charitable Foundation, Charter Hall, Fire Fight Australia Fund, Pepper Money, Vicinity Centres and Westpac Group.

The next round of SRC grants will open in late July and will include a dedicated stream of funding for communities in bushfire-affected local government areas.

Organisation	Project	Location	Awarded
New South Wales
Bermagui Seasiders Inc.	Seaside Sounds Support community recovery and boost local economy through the establishment of a contemporary music festival in Bermagui.	Bermagui	$10,000
Evans Head Business & Community Chamber	‘Hooked on Evans’ Community Festival Stimulate the local economy in Evans Head and support community recovery through supporting the delivery of the ‘Hooked on Evans’ festival.	Evans Head	$10,000
Lifeline Central West Incorporated	Rapid Community Support Program Support individual and community resilience in Central West communities impacted by bushfires by providing funding for Lifeline crisis response workshops.	Dubbo	$9,000
Mackville Community Health Mid North Coast Local Health District	Sisters Retreat Reduce social isolation and improve mental health for cancer survivors in the Nambucca Valley who have also been impacted by bushfires, by supporting a wellness retreat.	Grassy Head	$10,000
Milton Ulladulla Men’s Shed Incorporated	Maintain and Mitigate: Essential Ground Maintenance to Reduce Bush Fire Risk Reduce fire risk at the Milton Ulladulla Men’s Shed through the purchase of landscape maintenance equipment.	Ulladulla	$850
Nymboida Canoeing Limited	Goolang Creek Regeneration – Nymboida. Tennis Court Rapids to K&L Wave Support nature and community bushfire recovery through revegetation and installation of picnic tables at Goolang Creek.	Nymboida	$10,000
Nymboida Community Groups Inc.	Firesticks Cultural Burn Program – Nymboida Community Workshop Support community recovery and preparedness in Nymboida through the delivery of a Cultural Burning workshop.	Nymboida	$8,077
Bobin School of Arts Incorporated	Community Outdoor Meeting Place (The Bobin COMA) Strengthen the resilience of the Bobin community and support community recovery by providing an outdoor shaded area at the Bobin School of Arts Hall.	Bobin	$24,983
StoryFest Incorporated	StoryFest – Fire Relief Funding Build economic activity during tourism off-season supporting bushfire recovery and cultural engagement through ‘Storyteller’ Festival.	Milton	$15,000
Victoria
Gippsland East Local Learning & Employment Network	Innovation and Sustainable Redevelopment of Bushfire Impacted Communities Increase community resilience and support recovery from bushfires through the development of online resources.	Bairnsdale	$9,997
Great Alpine Gallery Inc.	Video Stories for Art and Recovery Support community recovery from drought and recent bushfires and build resilience through the delivery of a story telling program.	Swifts Creek	$5,908
Bruthen and District Neighbourhood House Bruthen and District Citizens Association Inc.	Holistic Community Well-being and Resilience Support volunteer capacity and bushfire recovery by increasing community engagement through the employment of a community worker.	Bruthen	$25,000