Media releases: 9 July 2020
26 projects funded in Victoria’s dairy farming regions
The Working in Dairy Communities (WIDC) Small Grants program, which is run in partnership between the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Gardiner Dairy Foundation, has awarded $121,584 in grants to support 26 projects in Victoria’s three dairy regions.
Now in its 18th year, the WIDC Small Grants program offers up to $5,000 to support community-driven projects that strengthen Victorian dairy communities through enhancing community infrastructure and local capacity.
Dr Clive Noble, Gardiner Dairy Foundation Chief Executive, said this year the Working in Dairy Communities grant program is supporting projects that support early childhood and adult education and stimulate economic recovery. These projects will have long-lasting benefits for these communities.
“Things have been tough for small towns reliant on dairy. These grants will help communities on their renewal journey by supporting projects that will encourage community engagement and social connectedness.
“The diversity of the projects reflects the differing needs of dairy communities too. For example, in Murrabit, a street beautification project will boost morale and add cultural vibrancy, while the funding of children’s activities at the Tarwin District Auto Festival should help to bring families into town for the November event.”
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said the longstanding partnership with Gardiner Dairy Foundation has been so successful because both Foundations share the belief that local groups are best placed to know what their community needs; they just need some support to turn their ideas into reality.
“Working with Gardiner Dairy Foundation over the past 18 years, we’ve seen just how passionate and dedicated local not-for-profit groups are in meeting challenges and creating their own opportunities.
“This year the program is supporting some fantastic initiatives to rejuvenate and extend the capacity of community spaces so that locals have access to high quality facilities – including the addition of an all abilities access ramp at Scotts Creek Hall, gas heaters to warm the many elderly citizens who use the Girgarre Hall, and audio visual equipment to improve local film nights at Yanakie Recreation Reserve and Public Hall.
Some of the 26 grants awarded this round include:
- Gippsland Dairy Region – Leongatha Community Preschool received a $5,000 grant to replace Hassett St Kindergarten’s worn out and damaged outdoor blinds, which will improve the kindergarten’s learning environment.
- Northern Dairy Region – Cobram Community Cinema Inc received $5,000 to purchase kitchen appliances to provide facilities for community use of the space and hospitality training programs at the new cinema facility – now in its final stages of construction – after the town’s previous cinema was destroyed by fire in 2010.
- South Western Dairy Region – South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve received $4,870 to rewire the Reserve’s buildings and toilet facilities as part of a larger scale project to rejuvenate the last remaining community asset, so that it is fit for regular events including markets and community gatherings.
Since the launch of the annual Working in Dairy Communities (WIDC) Small Grants program in 2002, Gardiner Dairy Foundation has invested more than $1.8 million in this program and has supported a total of 471 community projects.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project |
Location |
Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GIPPSLAND DAIRY REGION | |||
|
Anglican Trusts Corporation of the Diocese of Gippsland |
Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn: Improve volunteer support and the upkeep of a community gathering space through the purchase of a ride on Lawnmower. |
Trafalgar |
$4,899 |
|
Boisdale-Briagolong Football Club Inc |
Re-development of Boisdale Recreation Reserve’s Outdoor Entertainment Area: Strengthen community connectivity by enhancing the amenity of a venue where locals and visitors can gather for celebrations, recreation and social interactions. |
Boisdale |
$5,000 |
|
Foster Primary School |
Phone System Upgrade: Ensure children’s well-being and improve the amenity of the Foster Primary School through the purchase and installation of a new phone system. |
Foster |
$5,000 |
|
Grants Only Group Inc |
Better Communication Sounds Good: Strengthen community connectivity and engagement through the purchase of a new sound system. |
Tarwin Lower |
$4,838 |
|
Leongatha Community Pre School Centres Inc |
All Weather Screens – Hassett St Kindergarten: Upgrade the amenity of the kindergarten’s learning environment by replacing worn out and damaged outdoor blinds. |
Leongatha |
$5,000 |
|
Manna Gum Community House Inc |
Manna Gum Gathering Place -Stage 2: Strengthen educational and social outcomes through equipping a space that is safe and welcoming and can be used for relevant programs and activities. |
Foster |
$4,308 |
|
Venus Bay Tarwin Lower and District Mens Shed Inc |
Tarwin District Auto Festival 2020: Increase community engagement and strengthen social outcomes for volunteers through the delivery of Children’s activities at an annual festival. |
Tarwin Lower |
$5,000 |
|
Yanakie Recreation Reserve and Public Hall Reserve |
Yanakie Community Movies: Increase community engagement and the long-term sustainability of the Yanakie Public Hall. |
Yanakie |
$5,000 |
|
NORTHERN DAIRY REGION | |||
|
Campaspe Shire Council |
Grow and Share Together: Support community engagement and participation through the creation of a sensory garden. |
Stanhope |
$3,649 |
|
Cobram Community Cinema Inc |
Cobram Community Cinema Kitchen Project: Improve the future employment prospects of young people and increase community engagement through the purchase of kitchen appliances for a community cinema. |
Cobram |
$5,000 |
|
Cobram District Children’s Services Inc |
Eilleen Taylor – Outdoor & Imaginative Play Promotion: Improve educational and health outcomes for pre-school children by upgrading the Punt Rd Kindergarten’s outdoor play area. |
Cobram |
$5,000 |
|
Cobram District Children’s Services Inc |
Punt Rd Kinder & Childcare – Outdoor Play Enhancement: Support children’s learning and development through the purchase of outdoor play equipment. |
Cobram |
$5,000 |
|
Gannawarra Shire Council |
Supporting Gannawarra: Women Take a Well-Being Vacation!: Improve health and welfare of Women through the delivery of a Women’s workshop during Women’s Health Week. |
Cohuna |
$5,000 |
|
Girgarre Community Group Inc |
Books Bringing People Together: Improve the organisational capacity and increase community participation through the purchase of furniture. |
Girgarre |
$1,240 |
|
Girgarre Development Group Inc – Girgarre Hall Committee |
Warmer Winters: Strengthen community connectivity and engagement through installation of a heating system. |
Girgarre |
$5,000 |
|
Kindred Spirits Tatura Co-Operative Limited |
Opera at the Dairy Farm: Strengthen local culture and increase community engagement through the presentation of Opera at the Dairy Farm. |
Tatura |
$3,850 |
|
Murrabit Promotions Committee Inc |
Murrabit – Colour our Town!: Drive local tourism and strengthen community connection through the delivery of a community-based street beautification project. |
Murrabit |
$5,000 |
|
Rochester Secondary College |
The Resilience Project: Increase the well-being of children and young people in the community through the delivery of a resilience program. |
Rochester |
$5,000 |
|
SOUTH WESTERN DAIRY REGION | |||
|
Bostocks Creek Public Hall |
Building a New Kitchen: Increase community engagement and financial sustainability by conducting maintenance on a public building creating a secure hospitable meeting space. |
Bostocks Creek |
$3,930 |
|
Coragulac & District Kindergarten Inc |
Create an Indigenous Mural/Artwork ‘Our land/One Community’: Strengthen childhood education and community identity through the creation of a mural that will extend understanding of local culture. |
Cororooke |
$5,000 |
|
Friend’s of St Brigid’s Association |
Installing a Ceiling in our Undercover Area: Build community connectivity and capacity through the replacement of an outdoor covering, creating a secure hospitable meeting space. |
Crossley |
$5,000 |
|
Purnim Mechanics Institute |
Lighting up the Purnim Township: Contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Purnim township through the purchase and installation of a solar light system. |
Purnim |
$5,000 |
|
Scotts Creek Mechanics Institute and Free Library Reserve |
Disabled Ramp and Toilet: Enhance community well-being and connectedness and improve the amenity of a community hall through the installation of an all ability access ramp and toilet. |
Scotts Creek |
$5,000 |
|
Simpson & District Community Centre Inc |
Fun without the Sun: Strengthen community connectivity and engagement through the purchase and installation of seats and tables in a public park, creating a comfortable, year-round gathering space. |
Simpson |
$5,000 |
|
South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve |
Reconnection to Community Project Stage 1 – Restoring Power: Increase community participation through the improvement of a Recreation Reserve. |
South Purrumbete |
$4,870 |
|
South Western District Restoration Group |
Library Extension: Strengthen organisation capacity and social outcomes through equipping a space that is safe and welcoming and can be used for relevant programs and activities. |
Cobden |
$5,000 |
