Media releases: 19 October 2023
Nutrien Ag Solutions funds more than $250,000 in local projects
Nutrien Ag Solutions, in partnership with the FRRR, has awarded $252,924 in grants to 57 local not-for-profit organisations for projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of their remote, rural or regional communities.
Awarded through the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, the grants will support a broad array of projects, including community facility upgrades, local events and social gatherings, training and mentoring to address issues such as food insecurity and healthcare, and the purchase or upgrade of equipment to support volunteers.
Since 2021, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program has awarded more than $750,000 in grants to 167 community-led projects, helping to create long-term positive outcomes for rural places.
Mady Muirhead, Corporate Affairs Advisor at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said that the company is proud to support rural communities to implement future-focused solutions that are both attainable and sustainable.
“Thanks to our partnership with FRRR, we are able to help local grassroots organisations do more of what they do best. These organisations are the heartbeat of remote, rural and regional communities, and raising funds for local priority projects is getting harder and harder. But we are proud to support them now, and in the long-term.
“This year we saw almost 200 local Nutrien branches endorse grant applications and we are proud to fund more than a quarter of those projects. Our people live and work in these communities and thanks to their commitment to building lasting relationships with locals, they know just what projects the community will really value,” Ms Muirhead explained.
Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, said that this year, most funding has been directed toward upgrading the amenities or accessibility of community facilities.
“This reflects the increasing costs and dereliction of ageing community infrastructure and the challenges of fundraising locally to maintain these assets. Even though the grants may be considered small, these improvements will have a big impact on ensuring that these local meeting places are safe and secure so that locals can maintain their social connections.
“We appreciate Nutrien Ag Solutions’ continued support and investment in this program. It’s these kinds of partnerships that enable us to fund initiatives that are meaningful to the community in which the project is run. No matter what this may look like, we are inspired by the persistence of rural communities, to create a more vibrant and connected Australia,” Ms Karena said.
Some of the 57 organisations and projects being supported include:
- Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service Limited, in Tenterfield, NSW, has been awarded $5,000 to enhance the organisation’s fundraising capability and facilitate community engagement by purchasing a barbeque trailer.
- Riding for the Disabled Association Top End, in Darwin, NT, has been awarded $5,000 to increase disability support services through equipment to increase coach capacity for walking horses at Top End Riding for the Disabled.
- Banana Shire Community Arts Assoc Inc, in Biloela, QLD, has been awarded $4,778 to improve community facilities with a water tank at the Biloela Community Garden enabling efficient water use for growing fruit and vegetables for community access.
- Manoora Centenary Park Incorporated, in Manoora, SA, has been awarded $5,000 to enhance community first aid access at the Manoora Centenary Park by creating a dedicated space for first aid to be administered and improving hygiene, secure storage and patient privacy.
- Huon Valley Police & Community Youth Club Inc, in Huonville, TAS, has been awarded $5,000 to host a program focused on disadvantaged-youth that helps them learn about the importance of teamwork, co-operation, communication and leadership.
- Committee of Management of Dunrobin Public Hall and Reserve Inc, in Dunrobin, VIC, has been awarded $2,746 to build community capacity through the purchase of new chairs and a stainless steel urn to support safe and comfortable use of the Dunrobin Hall.
- Dumbleyung Community Resource Centre, in Dumbleyung, WA, has been awarded $4,597 to support community connection with the purchase of an inflatable screen to enable inclusive access to free movie nights across the year for a small remote community.
The fourth round of the Program is expected to open around June 2024. Community groups looking for funding in the interim should head to www.frrr.org.au/find-funding.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Australian Agricultural Centre Limited | Agriculture Career Taster Day Support ongoing student engagement in agriculture careers and build organisational capacity of the Australian Agricultural Centre Limited through supporting their training activities. | Crookwell | $5,000 | |||
| Bearbong Recreation Reserve Land Manager | Mothers Not Mice Build the capacity of volunteers and reduce mice issues with a robot vacuum cleaner that will automatically clean before and after key activities such as mothers' group. | Gilgandra | $1,799 | |||
| Berry and District Historical Society Incorporated | Photographic Equipment for Digitisation of the Berry Museum's Collection Build the capacity and capability of the Berry Historical Museum with photographic equipment to support digitisation of the local collection. | Berry | $2,946 | |||
| Braidwood FM Incorporated | Bravo TT Console Upgrade broadcasting console at Braidwood FM Community Radio station to support local volunteer broadcasting of news, entertainment and emergency updates for community safety and local engagement. | Braidwood | $5,000 | |||
| Rotary Club of Wagga Kooringal Inc on behalf of the Carabost Rural Fire Service | Carbost Fire Shed Ancillary Area Enhance facilities for Carabost RFS volunteers with a kitchen fit out to support meetings, training and recruitment of new volunteers. | Carabost | $5,000 | |||
| Culgoa Community Sports Club Incorporated | Fencing Exterior of Tennis Courts Upgrade remote community facilities with a fence to keep wildlife from damaging the surface of the tennis court, which is a vital asset for community wellbeing and socialisation. | Brewarrina | $5,000 | |||
| Girilambone Community Association | Girilambone Community Notice Board - Bringing Us Closer Together Build community capacity through the purchase and installation of a community notice board to community effectively to the broader community about social events, learning opportunities and emergency preparedness. | Girilambone | $2,923 | |||
| Goulburn Agricultural Pastoral & Horticultural Society Incorporated | Manure Bay Increase hygiene and protect biodiversity through building a manure bay at the showgrounds that will ensure appropriate disposal and reduce volunteer efforts. | Goulburn | $5,000 | |||
| Louth Chamber of Commerce | Louth Community Tennis Shed: Maintenance and Facility Upgrade Build community resilience with notice boards and gear for social tennis installed at the Louth community site to revitalise, inform and engage the community to connect. | Louth | $5,000 | |||
| Marrar Gymkhana Reserve Land Manager | Lawn Mower for Our Reserve Build capacity and increase use of the Marrar Gymkhana Reserve with the purchase of a lawn mower to reduce volunteer reliance and increase consistent maintenance to attract more users. | Marrar | $5,000 | |||
| Murrurundi Matters Inc | Cultivating Sustainability and Nourishing a Community through the Murrurundi Collective Permaculture Garden Initiative Support training and mentoring in permaculture and food systems development in Murrurundi to assist issues of food security with both individual and community gardens. | Murrurundi | $5,000 | |||
| Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service Limited | Barbecue Trailer Procurement for Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service's Tenterfield Volunteer Support Group Enhance the organisation’s fundraising capability and facilitate community engagement by purchasing a barbeque trailer. | Tenterfield | $5,000 | |||
| Nullamanna Reserve Land Manager | Portable Microphone Unit Enhance community facilities through a portable microphone system that connects into the ground's public announcement speaker system to reduce volunteer effort and improve communications effectiveness for all events including in times of emergency. | Nullamanna | $3,000 | |||
| Packsaddle Progress Association | Packsaddle Annual Christmas Tree Enhance the organisation's ability to meet the needs of a remote community by acquiring equipment and supplies required to organise events. | Packsaddle | $5,000 | |||
| South Coast Beef Producers Association Incorporated | Establishing an Online Presence for All Communications Support ongoing student engagement in agriculture careers and build organisational capacity of the South Coast Beef Producers Association through upgrading the functionality of their website. | Nowra | $5,000 | |||
| NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
| Riding for the Disabled Association Top End | Capacity Development - Horse Walker Completion Project Increase disability support services through equipment to increase coach capacity for walking horses at Top End Riding for the Disabled. | Darwin | $5,000 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Banana Shire Community Arts Assoc Inc | The Biloela Community Garden Project Improve community facilities with a water tank at the Biloela Community Garden enabling efficient water use for growing fruit and vegetables for community access. | Biloela | $4,778 | |||
| Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club Inc | 2023-24 Junior Lifesaving Development Program Build community resilience with training of Forrest SLSC nippers to provide the surf life savers of the future and strengthen community facilities. | Allingham | $5,000 | |||
| Kilkivan Primary P&C Association | Kilkivan State School Cattle Team - Water Increase educational opportunities in agriculture with additional water troughs to support expansion of the Kilkivan High School cattle program. | Kilkivan | $5,000 | |||
| Morven Progress Association Incorporated | Gathering Around the Tea and Coffee Station Enhance community facility's capacity to support social engagement with a central kitchenette constructed in the main hall for tea and coffee in Morven. | Morven | $5,000 | |||
| Mount Morgan Citizen's Club Inc | Mount Morgan Arts Precinct - All Abilities Access Increase access to community facilities with funding for a doorway renovation including a ramp to enable access for people with all abilities and wheelchairs. | Mount Morgan | $4,255 | |||
| Two Mile State School P&C Association | Kitchen Garden and Outdoor Learning Classroom Upgrade the outdoor kitchen garden classroom area to enhance learning opportunities for students. | Gympie | $5,000 | |||
| Wandoan District Meals on Wheels Inc | Wandoan Meals on Wheels Build organisational capacity with volunteer recruitment, training and food supplies to support the Wandoan Wheels on Meals service. | Wandoan | $5,000 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Burra Pre-School Kindergarten | To Install Free-Standing Monkey Bars at the Burra Early Learning Centre Support early childhood development through the installation of monkey bars at Burra Pre School and Kindergarten. | Burra | $5,000 | |||
| Cummins & District War Memorial Swimming Pool Inc | Plan for the Cummins and District War Memorial Pool Redevelopment Support the renovation of Cummins pool, an important community resource that brings people together, by hiring a qualified consultant to create a restoration plan. | Cummins | $5,000 | |||
| Glencoe Public Hall Incorporated | Hall Kitchen Upgrade for Safety Upgrade Glencoe Community Hall's kitchen to support compliance and ensure operations for all community group use and evacuation centre utility. | Glencoe | $5,000 | |||
| Hardwicke Bay & District Progress Association | Kitchen Refurbishment at Community Hall Improved community facilities with a kitchen renovation at the Hardwicke Bay community hall that is the social hub for the small community. | Hardwicke Bay | $5,000 | |||
| Isolated Children's Parent's Association of South Australia | South Australia Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (SA ICPA) State Council Workshops Build the capacity of volunteer committee / counsellors who support children and parents in isolated rural and remote areas of South Australia with face-to-face workshops in leadership and governance. | Port Augusta | $5,000 | |||
| Jamestown Apex Club | The Jamestown Combined Services Groups 2023 Christmas Pageant Strengthen community connection with the funding of children's entertainment, including rides, and event insurance for the local community Christmas event. | Jamestown | $5,000 | |||
| Karoonda Farm Fair Inc | Building Capacity for Karoonda Farm Fair and Show Build the organisation's capacity by training volunteers for event activities and purchase equipment to manage event logistics. | Karoonda | $4,955 | |||
| Manoora Centenary Park Incorporated | First Aid Room Enhance community first aid access at the Manoora Centenary Park by creating a dedicated space for first aid to be administered and improving hygiene, secure storage and patient privacy. | Manoora | $5,000 | |||
| Millicent Agricultural Horticultural and Pastoral Society Inc | Stage Shelter Improve community infrastructure by constructing a shelter over the stage at the Millicent Show Grounds to support all weather use for multiple purposes. | Millicent | $5,000 | |||
| TASMANIA | ||||||
| Flinders Island Show Society Inc | Create an Undercover Flexible Venue for Community Use Upgrade community facilities by extending the roof at the showgrounds to increase capacity for events and thereby increase opportunities for activities. | Whitemark | $5,000 | |||
| Huon Valley Police & Community Youth Club Inc | Operation Resilience Program Host a program focused on disadvantaged youth that helps them learn about the importance of teamwork, co-operation, communication and leadership. | Huonville | $5,000 | |||
| Rocky Cape Public Hall Incorporation | Defibrillator Acquisition Increase users’ safety at the Rocky Cape Public Hall by installing a defibrillator. | Rocky Cape | $2,500 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Anam Cara House Colac Inc | Supporting Rural People to Take Control of their Healthcare Needs Support vulnerable ageing and ill people in South West Victoria through training registered nurses to provide education and help individuals in developing Advance Care Plans. | Colac | $3,389 | |||
| Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve and Hall Community Reference Group Bonnie Doon Community Group Inc | Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve Hall Facilities Upgrade Upgrade community facilities with audio, lighting and tables to support events at the Bonnie Doon Community Hall. | Bonnie Doon | $4,822 | |||
| Buangor Community Sports Centre Inc | Historic Buangor Cobb & Co – Window & Door-frame Refurbishment Maintain community facility through repairing window of historic Buangor Cobb & Co building to ensure security and continued community use. | Buangor | $5,000 | |||
| Camperdown Pastoral & Agricultural Society Inc | Heartbeat of Our Community Boost organisation’s capability to support the wider community through the purchase of a defibrillator for use in an emergency at community events. | Camperdown | $2,724 | |||
| Committee of Management of Dunrobin Public Hall and Reserve Inc | A Place to Sit Build community capacity through the purchase of new chairs and a stainless steel urn to support safe and comfortable use of the Dunrobin Hall. | Dunrobin | $2,746 | |||
| Dimboola Progress Association Incorporated | See Dimboola in a New Light Boost community vitality through the purchase and installation of lighting on streetscape buildings and trees to reignite the community’s ‘sense of place’. | Dimboola | $5,000 | |||
| Get Started Disability Support Australia Ltd | Get Started Disability & Beyond Online Workshop Series & Facilitated Peer Support Empower people living with disability through education, knowledge, connection and lived experience. | Kilmore | $5,000 | |||
| Kaniva Leeor United Football Netball Club | Sprinkler System Installation at the Kaniva Community Hub Support volunteers with an automated watering system to reduce grounds maintenance at the Kaniva Community Hub. | Kaniva | $4,532 | |||
| Mitta Valley Landcare Inc | Mitta Valley Planting and Catering Trailer Build organisational capacity with a trailer to support volunteer tree planting and environmental works for flood mitigation in the Mitta Valley. | Mitta Mitta | $5,000 | |||
| Myrtleford RSL Sub-Branch Inc | Comfort for the Elderly, the Vulnerable and Families Improve community facilities with new furniture to support ongoing use for community meetings and social connection for the elderly, veterans and their families, in particular on memorial days. | Myrtleford | $4,500 | |||
| Nathalia Agricultural Society | Who is a Show Worker? Volunteers' Uniforms Support volunteers to host the local Show and improve event safety by purchasing volunteers’ uniforms. | Nathalia | $1,145 | |||
| Omeo Region Business and Tourism Association on behalf of Omeo Community Hub | Omeo Community Hub Support community connectedness and engagement through funding craft gatherings for 12 months at the new volunteer-run Omeo Community Hub. | Omeo | $4,050 | |||
| The Leongatha Men's Shed | Squared Away Boost the Men's Shed capacity to help community groups by providing them with equipment to create products for those in need. | Leongatha | $2,759 | |||
| The Trustee for the MAC Trust | The Heart of the Organisation Build the capacity of the Mansfield Armchair Cinemas with a new computer to support operations and the student trainees completing media studies on-the-job. | Mansfield | $3,124 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Albany Mens Shed Inc | Dust Extraction Upgrade - Addressing Identified Health Risks Improve air quality for users of the Albany Mens Shed through a dust extraction upgrade to benefit the existing 180 male and female members and enable expansion. | Albany | $4,914 | |||
| Aldersyde Agricultural Hall Incorporated | Playground Enhance community infrastructure through the purchase of playground equipment for Aldersyde Hall that meets Australian Standards, and encourages engaging and safe play. | Aldersyde | $5,000 | |||
| Dumbleyung Community Resource Centre | Cinematic Magic in Dumbleyung Support community connection with the purchase of an inflatable screen to enable inclusive access to free movie nights across the year for a small remote community. | Dumbleyung | $4,597 | |||
| Hopetoun Progress Association Inc | Summer Sessions 2024 Build community connection through funding musicians at the Hopetoun Annual Summer Festival which provides a free family friendly event for locals to socialise and engage in activities. | Hopetoun | $5,000 | |||
| Nature Conservation Margaret River Region Inc | Mobile Watering Unit to Increase Community Planting Success Rates Boost the effectiveness of local conservation and land management with a mobile watering unit to support the work of 290 regular volunteers for the Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and preserve the rich biodiverse environment for the community who live there. | Margaret River | $5,000 | |||
| River Conservation Society Incorporated | Gogulgar Bilya / Avon River Community Information & Educational Space Support conservation of Gogulgar Bilya / Avon rivers systems through constructing an information and education pergola with local First Nations, land management and nature conservatory expertise input to educate and engage local interest and participation in conservation. | York | $5,000 | |||
| Tonebridge Country Club Inc | Replacement of Chairs Upgrade community facilities with the purchase of new chairs to support remote community events including tennis, bounce, pool and bbq's every Sunday. | Tonebridge | $4,378 | |||
| Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group Incorporated | Growing Community Strengthen community resilience with a workshop on resilient gardening and equipment to build a local community garden in Kalannie. | Kalannie | $3,088 | |||
