Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal
Woombah is located in the Clarence Valley, on Yaegl Country, and has a growing population including long-time residents, older residents and young families. Without a community hall or cafe, the community has long needed a place to gather, connect, share ideas and resources.
The Woombah Residents Association (WRA) created the Woombah Wellness Community Garden to provide a sustainable gathering space for locals to come together and share gardening tips, knowledge, stories and create community connections.
They received a grant last year from The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund grants program, which FRRR manages. It supports communities in the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions who have a desire and need to strengthen their capacity and resilience in response to the 2019/20 bushfires, flooding and continued challenges across the region.
WRA used the $12,100 grant to create a series of promotional and educational videos to celebrate the recently established community garden and share the 2021 program of workshops and events with members, residents, community groups and wider social networks.
Six videos were developed to create a stronger online presence, encourage greater onsite participation, educate residents about the benefits of gardening, and engage their volunteers and members:
- Native Bee Hotel Workshop Promo
- How to Make a Native Bee Hotel
- Saturday, It’s Garden Day Promo
- Tunes in the Trees Highlights
- Gardener Profile Vicki
- Gardener Profile Cara
- Vicki’s Garden Map Promo
From developing creative video content with different members and groups in the community, to screenings virtually and at Woombah Residents’ Association meetings, the production of these resources helped deepen WRA’s engagement with the wider community. It also provided opportunities to build stronger relationships within the community garden team, by working together on this series of creative video projects.
“We are grateful for the support from FRRR and The Yulgilbar Foundation, and proud of the workshop activities and virtual resources that have built organisational capacity in the WRA’s Wellness Community Garden and increased awareness and engagement in environmental sustainability initiatives in our community.”
Berri Brown, President
Final round of funding announced
Applications are now open for The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund grant program, which is run by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). Community groups and local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in and around Clarence Valley can apply for grants of up to $50,000 to fund projects that strengthen their capacity and resilience in response to the 2019/20 bushfires, flooding and continued challenges across the region.
This is the final round of funding from this program, offering $2 million across the region through a mix of multi-year and one-off grants depending on the needs of local groups.
The Fund focuses on supporting projects that leverage artistic endeavours, boost educational participation, support locally-led environmental sustainability initiatives or build capacity for communities to respond to bushfires, drought, floods or other events like COVID.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that The Yulgilbar Foundation shares FRRR’s passion for community-led recovery and resilience.
“The people in this region have dealt with a lot the last few years between drought, then the 2019-20 bushfires, COVID restrictions and most recently, flooding. At FRRR, we know that local organisations are led by community members who are best placed to know and really understand what the community needs to recover and also to thrive into the future.
“The Yulgilbar Foundation takes the same approach, which is why this grant program was created in the first place. We have a strong history of partnering and it’s been great to work alongside them on this program strengthening the communities of the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions,” said Ms Egleton.
Community groups and NFPs can apply for the grants before 5pm AEDT, 21 February 2023.
More details, including the program guidelines and EOI form, are available on FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/the-yulgilbar-foundation-fund/.
Grants part of $2M funding commitment for region
Thanks to a new partnership between the FRRR and The Yulgilbar Foundation, 22 projects in the Clarence Valley and surrounding region have received a much-needed boost this year, with community groups sharing in $1,214,206 in grants.
Funded through The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund program, these grants are part of $2 million investment across the region over a three-year period. Funded initiatives include 19 one-off grants and two multi-year grants that will strengthen community capacity and resilience in the wake of the 2019/20 bushfires, drought and continued challenges across the region.
A broad cross section of groups has received support for a wide range of initiatives, with grants ranging from $1,600 for a creative writing workshop to $571,000, distributed over three years, for the Changing Lanes Community Youth Garage program run by The New School of Arts. Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation has also been awarded multi-year funding, totaling $148,413, for a project focused on resilience and wellbeing of Indigenous boys and men from Clarence Valley and surrounds.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that the breadth of the projects funded reflects the diverse needs of communities in the Clarence Valley and surrounding areas.
“Great ideas and initiatives to create strong, vibrant communities are prevalent across the Clarence Valley and neighbouring regions. However, the last 12 to 18 months have made it pretty challenging to find the funding and resources to bring them to fruition.
“These grants, which are generously funded by The Yulgilbar Foundation, mean that these 22 ideas will become reality and have a positive impact on the capacity and resilience of their communities. It is fantastic to have dedicated funding available to support this region,” Ms Egleton said.
The projects supported range from creative arts, heritage and culture projects, events and festivals, gardening, street-scaping, creating employment-pathways, IT equipment and business, leadership and mental health workshops.
Further opportunities for grants will be available through The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund in the coming year. More information is available here.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are listed below by LGA:
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarence Valley | ||||||
North West Film Festival Inc. Arts North West Incorporated | Drought Recovery Outreach Program - Sara Storer Tour Encourage people to come together and improve community spirit in 12 drought affected northern NSW townships by bringing live music events featuring Australian singer/songwriter Sara Storer. | Clarence Valley Shire, Tenterfield Shire, & Kyogle Council | $70,000 | |||
| Richmond Valley Business & Rural Financial Counselling Services Incorporated | Family Farm Succession Planning Support and strengthen the local economy by running six community information workshops to help farming families in drought and bushfire affected communities plan for the future. | Clarence Valley Shire, Tenterfield Shire, Inverell Shire, Gunnedah Shire | $24,000 | |||
North West Film Festival Inc. Arts North West Incorporated | Choir of Fire Encourage bushfire affected communities in regional NSW to come together and unwind by running a touring music concert event in 12 towns. | Clarence Valley, Tenterfield, & Inverell Shires | $30,000 | |||
| Copmanhurst Pre-School Inc | Healing circle surrounded by native garden Enhance areas that support local recovery at Copmanhurst Preschool, through establishment of a healing circle and native garden. | Copmanhurst | $8,650 | |||
| Blicks Community Incorporated | LET’S CONNECT- The Blicks Community Communication Strategy Grow community resilience, connectedness, and emergency preparedness in the Dundurrabin area through the development and implementation of a Community Communication Strategy. | Dundurrabin | $25,000 | |||
Ewingar South Tabulam Community Sports Center Clarence Valley Council | Ewingar Rising Enhance local recovery and increase wellbeing, through delivery of community music festival on anniversary of disaster event. | Ewingar | $19,860 | |||
| Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation | Rising Warriors Program - Healing Our Way Boost resilience and wellbeing of Indigenous boys and men in the Clarence Valley and surrounds through culturally relevant activities and events. | Grafton | $148,413 * | |||
| OZ Green-Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (Australia) Incorporated | Resilient Communities - Clarence Valley Shire Build community awareness and skills in disaster preparedness with the delivery of Resilient Communities program in the Clarence Valley. | Grafton | $85,815 | |||
The Long Way Home Byron Writers Festival | Creative writing workshops with Cate Kennedy Encourage the development of creative writing skills through accessible workshops for Clarence Valley residents. | Grafton | $1,600 | |||
| The New School of Arts Neighbourhood House Incorporated | Changing Lanes Improve social connection, leadership skills, and employment pathways for young people in the Clarence Valley through the Changing Lanes Community Youth Garage program. | Grafton | $571,000 * | |||
| The Susan and Elizabeth Islands Recreation Land Manager | Ceremonial Stone placement and seating on Susan Island Celebrate local Indigenous culture and heritage by placing a Ceremonial Stone, seating and signage at a gathering place on Susan Island, Grafton. | Grafton | $4,700 | |||
| Lawrence Historical Society Incorporated | Technology to Preserve Local Cultural History and Easy Public Access Build organisational capacity to maintain and share information about the local area through new technology and website for local museum in Lawrence. | Lawrence | $19,220 | |||
| The Mend & Make Do Crew Incorporated | She He Shed Increase social connectedness and improve facilities delivering arts and craft-based activities in Grafton through fit-out costs and equipment at the She Shed He Shed maker’s space. | South Grafton | $30,000 | |||
| Woombah Residents Association Incorporated | Woombah Wellness Community Garden Raising Videos & Media Makers Mentoring Program Build organisational capacity to promote local environmental sustainability through development of virtual resources for Woombah Community Garden. | Woombah | $12,100 | |||
| Port of Yamba Historical Society Incorporated | Expanding stories of Yaegl people and their culture at Yamba Museum Build organisational capacity of Historical Society in Yamba to celebrate local Indigenous culture through the installation of artwork and enhancements at local museum. | Yamba | $20,000 | |||
| Coffs Harbour | ||||||
| Glenreagh School of the Arts Incorporated | Cedar and Steam Art and Photo Exhibition 2021 Boost capacity of Glenreagh School of the Arts to support local artists and community access to artworks by upgrading display systems. | Glenreagh | $4,000 | |||
| Goondiwindi | ||||||
| Lanescape Goondiwindi Incorporated | Masterplan Art Trail Enhance the amenity and vibrancy of Goondiwindi through a public art project engaging the local community. | Goondiwindi | $25,000 | |||
| Kyogle | ||||||
| Proprietor Bundgeam Preschool Incorporated | Community Bike Track & Solar Installation Boost community preparedness, resilience and wellbeing in Terrace Creek, NSW, through the development of a community bike track and solar installation at local preschool site. | Terrace Creek | $42,000 | |||
| Border Ranges Riding Club Incorporated | Supporting the activities of Border Ranges Riding Club 2021-2022 Boost access to inclusive community activities in Woodenbong through local riding club fostering skill development, social connection, and resilience. | Woodenbong | $6,975 | |||
| Woodenbong Progress Association | Upgrade of the median strip in MacPherson Street, Woodenbong Enhance the streetscape and boost community spirit in Woodenbong through the beautification of the main street. | Woodenbong | $5,600 | |||
| Tenterfield | ||||||
| Tenterfield Show Society Incorporated | Connecting 1876-2021 Build capacity of Tenterfield Show Society to preserve local history and culture through restoring and digitalizing the photographic collection of the region dating 1876 to 2021. | Tenterfield | $4,906 | |||
| Arts North West Incorporated | CreativiTEA - Seasonal Stories of the New England North West Boost community resilience and connections in four townships in Inverell and Tenterfield Shires through a series of creative workshops over two years. | Tenterfield & Inverell Shires (Drake, Ashford, Tingha, Torrington) | $55,367 | |||
| * Funding to be distributed over multi-year projects | ||||||
$2 million Fund to respond to the needs of the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions
A new partnership between the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and The Yulgilbar Foundation will give rural and regional communities in the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions in Northern New South Wales a much-needed boost.
A total of $2 million will be invested across the region over a three-year period, through multi-year and one-off grants. Priority will be given to projects that are optimistic and forward-looking, led by locally-based community groups and not-for-profit organisations (NFPs).
The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund will assist community organisations to implement a wide range of initiatives. The Fund will focus on supporting projects that foster artistic collaborations, encourage educational participation, support environmental sustainability, and build capacity for communities to respond to recent bushfires and persistent drought.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that The Yulgilbar Foundation shares FRRR’s belief that local people are best placed to know what is needed to strengthen and support their community.
“Like much of rural New South Wales, the Clarence Valley has worked really hard to overcome a long run of persistent challenges, including the 2019-20 bushfires, ongoing drought, and the complexities of COVID-19. This Fund means communities can address the needs that these challenges have created, in ways that make a real difference.
“We have a long history with The Yulgilbar Foundation and look forward to seeing this Fund further strengthen communities in the Clarence Valley and beyond,” Ms Egleton said.
Community groups and NFPs can apply for the grants through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. with Round 1 opening on Thursday 18 February.
More details, including the program guidelines and EOI form, are available here.
Clarence Landcare is located in regional NSW. Their mission is to promote sustainable land, agriculture, water, vegetation and biodiversity management practices and principles to their local community.
The largely volunteer-run organisation has been taking care of the land in the region for more than two decades. They regularly running community projects and initiatives focused on sustainable land care. The team also hosts workshops at their head office to educate and engage the wider community.
Located in the main street of Grafton, the Clarence Landcare office is in the 100-year-old Dougherty House. After the building was recently repainted giving the exterior of the building new life, it became clear that the interior was in desperate need of an upgrade.
Not only had the furniture been in use for more than 20 years, the team was also lacking basic essentials to help their meetings and workshops run smoothly. There was mismatching furniture and outdated technology made it very difficult for members to join meetings remotely.
The team applied to the FRRR Small Grants for Rural Communities program, and received a $5,000 grant to help them upgrade their workspace. The funding, made possible thanks to The Yulgilbar Foundation, provided improvements such as new blinds, couches, coffee tables, rugs and faux plants, giving new life to the old office.
In addition to the furniture, the funding was also used to purchase some much-needed technology, including a new iPad, Smart TV with a TV stand on wheels, web cam and microphone. This technology has enabled the team to dial into meetings remotely, making it easier for Clarence Landcare staff to stay connected digitally.
“I feel we are heading in a great direction now thanks to this FRRR grant, we don’t need to look like a poverty stricken not-for-profit organisation anymore. We now have the vision and committee support to keep improving our public face of Clarence Landcare. This will really help us gain confidence and attract clientele for future projects. The function of every new piece of equipment has far outweighed the predicted benefits,” said Landcare Officer Debbie Repschlager.
