Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
It’s not often that a toilet block is a tourism drawcard for a community, but that’s just what this project has achieved.
The Snowtown Centenary Park Inc oversees the grounds at North Terrace, Snowtown, 145 km north of Adelaide in SA. They’ve been on a mission to improve the facilities and, over the past 10 years, have extended the football change rooms, built a skate park and recently renovated the interior of the toilet block.
The outside of the toilet block however, still left a lot to be desired – a dull and dirty bessa block structure, with no visual appeal. It was truly a ‘blank canvas’.
An SRC grant for $10,000, funded by a private donor, enabled the Park Committee to engage a professional artist to paint a mural on all four walls, to brighten the centrally located facilities.
The mural has transformed the dull façade of the Centenary Park amenities block with vibrant images of bird and animal life. It is now regularly admired by locals and visitors to Centenary Park. With animals and objects of every letter of the alphabet to find and discover, it’s great for people of all ages, from young children looking for animals, teenagers posing for photos and adults enjoying the beautiful artwork. This mural is bright and colourful and a wonderful sight for tourists calling in off the highway and visitors to the region.
“So many people have stopped to admire the artwork and we have had an increase in caravan visitors to the park … the mural has had a positive impact on the image of the whole town. The toilet block looks amazing. Before it was dull and boring, now it is bright, vibrant and interesting.”
Project Manager and Committee member Bernie Altmann.
Originally a resting place for passing drovers, Foster is a small town just north of the Gippsland coast. Like much of regional Victoria, Foster was hit hard by COVID, with long-lasting economic, health and social outcomes. Impacts on social connection, the need to provide food relief for the community, and the reduced ability for community groups to fundraise were all felt strongly by the volunteers at Manna Community Garden.
Established 22 years ago, Manna Community Garden strives to improve food security and social wellbeing in the community. Working closely with Manna Gum Community House, community lunches are held and meals are provided for people in need of support. Demand for these lunches and meals was heightened during the pandemic and continues today, with the need exacerbated by escalating cost-of-living pressures. The two organisations also work together to provide assistance and information via workshops on topics such as grafting and seed saving, and a community stall at the local farmers’ market.
The fire pit in the gardens is an important gathering place for community members. The facility hosts the local youth group, community lunches, evenings in the garden events and NAIDOC week activities.
Before the pandemic, fundraising efforts were underway to pay for desperately needed upgrades to the Manna Community Garden, including to the garden beds and the amenities around the fire pit. A large Christmas in July fundraiser had to be cancelled two days before it was due to be held due to lockdown orders and while local sponsorship allowed the garden upgrades to go ahead, the works around the fire pit remained unfunded. The seating was dangerous and needed replacing if the gardens were to continue to provide an important social space for the community.
The volunteers at Manna Community Garden applied for an FRRR grant to supplement their fundraising strategy and allow them to continue with these much-needed works. Through an Australian Government-funded SRC Rebuilding Regional Communities grant for $2,600, the fire pit seating was able to be upgraded. The community of Foster is now able to safely enjoy the gardens as a space to socialise, come together, learn and provide food relief for the town.
President of Manna Community Garden, Ms Juneen Schulz, explained the importance of the garden upgrades for reconnection:
“The space has provided a beautiful location for members of our community, especially our garden group, to connect. This is particularly important in the recovery from COVID-19, as it gives us a safe space to be together and rebuild our community.”
With the easing of COVID restrictions, Manna Community Garden has since joined together with other community gardens in the district to run annual events, bringing the wider South Gippsland and Bass Coast communities together and celebrating the benefits of growing locally. The first event, held in Foster in the newly renovated garden, attracted 60 guests and included workshops, guest speakers, and of course lots of beautiful locally grown produce!
“We wanted an inclusive day where community gardens across our slice of the universe could come together and discuss our favourite topics – growing food, looking after our hamlets and communities, sharing our knowledge.”
The neighbouring town of Meeniyan will host the next event, in what is hoped will be a long-running tradition – supporting communities that were badly impacted by COVID-19 to come together and encourage the health, economic, environmental, and social benefits of growing produce locally.
The work of Manna Community Garden shows that a small project can have a big, and long lasting, impact!
The Fremantle Foundation was established in 2010, and seeks to create a thriving community through local giving and to address critical community needs by providing inspiring ways for people to give. They partnered with FRRR in 2020 through a Community Foundation Account, allowing them to support a wider range of community organisations conducting charitable activities in rural and regional WA, particularly those without their own DGR status – which is the majority of community organisations in regional and remote areas.
In FY23, for the second year in a row, the Foundation distributed grants exceeding $1 million across 62 grants, creating impact in the local Fremantle community, the broader metropolitan area, regional and remote WA, as well as in other parts of Australia.
While most of their donors focus on metropolitan areas, the FRRR Community Foundation Account specifically allows the Fremantle Foundation to support more projects in regional communities.
For example, the Northhampton community, located around five hours north of Fremantle, was badly affected by Cyclone Seroja in April 2021. A group of ex and current AFL footballers, all from around Northampton, set up a fund with Fremantle Foundation to support rebuilding in the township and the surrounding region.
Two projects that have been completed to date include the refurbishment of the Olgilvie Hall and construction of a remembrance garden at St Mary’s School. The garden includes new paving, bench seating and a selection of plants, including the much-loved rose garden. In addition, signage has been installed for visitors to gather and learn about the parish and impact of Cyclone Seroja.
The Fremantle Foundation is also using their FRRR Community Foundation Account to ensure donated funds support the launch of the Peel Community Fund.The Fund was established in 2019 by members of the Peel community, with the aim of creating their own Community Foundation in the region. Thanks to their FRRR Account, Fremantle Foundation was able to award them a grant to support the development of critical infrastructure, including a website, communication and marketing plan, marketing materials, operational structure, committee governance and membership / giving structures.
In another example of their ability to inspire local giving, The Esperance Ag Fund was established in 2021 by the local agricultural sector in partnership with Fremantle Foundation, with the sole purpose of making a difference within the Esperance community. Collectively, the farming community, which is about 700 km from Fremantle, provides support to the wider Esperance region by funding projects that make a positive impact. They’ve recently awarded a grant to the Recherche Aged Welfare Committee for the installation of a reticulation system at the Alchera Aged Care Housing property.
Pauline Eves from Fremantle Foundation said they are most grateful for the assistance provided by FRRR to enable grants like these to happen.
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 |
Additional $150,000 per year going into canola-growing areas to support sustainability initiatives
FRRR has welcomed a three-year commitment from canola seed business, Nuseed, to support its flagship small grants program, Strengthening Rural Communities.
Announced at an event in Horsham on Wednesday 11 October, Nuseed Australia GM, Rachel Palumbo, said that with deep roots in rural communities, they wanted to give back to causes and organisations that are important to the farmers who invest in their seed, particularly around sustainability initiatives.
Ms Palumbo said, “Our team works hard to develop high-performing canola varieties for Australian farmers, and we know that we are successful because of the support we get in the local communities in which we operate. By partnering with FRRR we can support canola-growing communities in a tangible and significant way. The majority of our Nuseed team are also based in communities just like these, and see the benefits that community-focused projects can bring.”
“Nuseed is delighted to be adding our name to the list of organisations that are partnering with FRRR to ensure that funds get to the projects that really need support. Our funding will be directed at projects in canola-growing areas across the country that focus on sustainability related initiatives, in line with our strategic intent to provide plant-based solutions to some of food and fuel challenges we’re facing.”
Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Programs Portfolio Lead, said the $150,000 annual donation will mean that many more community groups can invest in projects that they know will make a difference to the liveability and vitality of their communities.
“We are seeing more and more requests from community groups to help them respond to their changing needs, so it’s wonderful to be able to have dedicated funding available in canola-growing areas to be able to support these great projects.
“In some communities, that might look like installing air-conditioning in community owned buildings to reduce energy costs, providing sustainability focused education, undertaking tree planting, or waterway restoration initiatives. For other communities, it could be that the priority is to have a backup generator, solar panels or water tanks to ensure community gardens can be maintained.
“That’s the value of small grants programs like Strengthening Rural Communities. They are flexible and allow communities to get the funding to support the projects they prioritise, so we are really grateful for Nuseed’s support of this program. Our partnership will also mean that community groups get access to advice and support that builds their confidence and enables them to lodge a great application. We look forward to awarding many more grants thanks to their contribution,” Ms Karena said.
The Nuseed funding will be included in the next round of SRC, which is open now and will be announced by late February 2024. Community groups can already apply for SRC support, as this program is always open, with quarterly assessments. The program offers grants up to $10,000 through the Small and Vital stream for projects that strengthen community connections and meet local priorities.
Applications are now open for the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program, with grants of up to $15,000 available for not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional areas to support the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia.
The program, which is now in its 21st year, is administered by FRRR, and has provided more than $5.5 million to more than 800 community groups for approximately 900 projects to help build vibrant and sustainable communities.
This year, the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program is again offering a share of $250,000 to community organisations in remote, rural or regional locations for projects aligned to four focus areas:
- Environmental sustainability: initiatives that restore and conserve the natural environment or which contribute to lower carbon emissions, water stewardship and waste minimisation;
- Financial wellbeing: particularly for under-represented and disadvantaged people in the community, including initiatives that improve economic participation. For example, building financial literacy and vocational skills and providing access to meaningful work;
- Housing access: initiatives and programs that support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness or that provide supports for people living with disability; or
- Projects that assist local communities to thrive: by either enabling vibrant communities where everyone can participate and build a better life, or creating sustainable communities that help deliver demonstrable medium to long term economic sustainability.
ANZ General Manager Business Banking Jenefer Stewart said: “ANZ is committed to enhancing the wellbeing and prosperity of the communities where our people live and work, and where our business operates. One way we do this is by reinvesting in communities through programs like Seeds of Renewal. This year we are proud to once again contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of small rural communities,” Ms Stewart said.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said: “In the current financial environment, we know there is a heightened need to support and strengthen the sustainability of rural Australia. We believe local leaders and community groups are best placed to identify and address the environmental, financial and housing concerns in their region, and to know first-hand what their communities need to thrive. Programs like ANZ Seeds of Renewal mean we can support these types of meaningful and community-led projects that promote the sustainability and liveability of remote, rural and regional Australia. We look forward to seeing what projects local groups put forward this year,” Ms Egleton said.
Last year, ANZ and FRRR provided grants to 20 community groups for projects including preserving Anbinik Rainforests through Indigenous Fire Management in Arnhem Land, NT; building capability and confidence by providing practical financial literacy skills and awareness training to women in East Gippsland, Victoria; providing fit out of accommodation to support women at risk of domestic violence and homelessness in remote WA; and delivering key skills training to increase the employability of young people in agriculture in Crookwell, NSW.
Applications open on 12 July and close 5pm AEST, 10 August 2023.
A grantseeker workshop will be held online from 1 – 2pm AEST, on Wednesday 19 July, 2023.
For more information about ANZ Seeds of Renewal, or to apply for a grant visit: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/anz-seeds-of-renewal/.
Applications for Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program are now open, with eligible not-for-profit organisations invited to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to support remote, rural or regional community projects. The Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program is run in partnership with FRRR.
“Since the launch of the Community Grants program in 2021, Nutrien has supported 110 projects by awarding over $500,000 in grants to rural and regional communities across Australia,” said Mady Muirhead, Corporate Affairs Coordinator at Nutrien Ag Solutions.
“The success of agriculture and the well-being of regional Australia are inextricably linked. We’re proud to play a leading role in helping to build a safe and sustainable future for our farmers and their communities. We are going further by investing in meaningful projects and supporting local grassroot organisations.
“We have thousands of employees living and working in rural and regional Australia, ingrained in their local communities. They have a deep understanding of what makes a community thrive – and it’s all about the people.
“Last year we saw many parts of our country face environmental disasters on a significant scale, with many still facing recovery. This placed significant unanticipated stress on grassroots organisations and groups that work tirelessly to support their local communities. Nutrien Ag Solutions is so proud to provide a much-needed boost to the rural and regional communities we are a part of,” said Ms Muirhead.
The Community Grants Program has supported more than 100 local projects over the past two years, including the installation of an Indigenous artwork and Bush Tucker Garden at Childers, Queensland; contributing to a purpose-built beach ramp and wheelchairs at Swansea, Tasmania; child protection workshops at Dowerin, Western Australia and the installation of solar power panels at the Cambrai Sports Club in South Australia.
“We work in partnership with our communities to support them at a local level, in ways that best suit the individual needs of that community,” said Ms Muirhead.
“Rural communities continue to deal with so many challenges and the role of local not-for-profit groups is becoming ever more critical in filling gaps and helping create vibrant, sustainable communities. Many of these organisations have wonderful volunteers who do so much but projects to improve community facilities or resource new projects or operations also need funding,” said FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton.
“Over the last two years local fundraising has been made increasingly difficult due to COVID and increasing economic pressures, meaning locals have less capacity to give. As a result, we’re seeing more and more demand for funding support.
“We are grateful for Nutrien’s ongoing partnership, as it enables grassroots groups to access grants that can go toward these projects. But it’s more than just money, as Nutrien’s support continues locally for groups that get funding, staying connected to the local branches as projects are implemented. So, we look forward to seeing what projects come forward this year,” Ms Egleton said.
Applications for the 2023 Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program are open now and close 10th August 2023, with successful applicants announced in October this year.
An online webinar will be held to support grant seekers from 12.30 – 1.30 (AEST) on Monday 24 July. Sign up for the webinar via the FRRR website or via this LINK.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/nutrien/
The Shire of Cunderdin serves the small towns of Cunderdin and Meckering in the Wheatbelt region of WA. In addition to the usual Council services, the Shire also supports local community groups to help build a place where residents are happy and proud to live by providing excellent community facilities, services and community resilience.
The Council works closely with the Cunderdin Youth Council. This group of extraordinary young people identified that youth in the region have almost no support when it comes to mental health. This is backed up with research by the Commissioner of Children and Young Western Australia, which identified that many regional and remote communities have inadequate age-appropriate services and limited infrastructure such as transport and recreational facilities. Young people in the Wheatbelt raised concerns about confidentiality, lack of anonymity and stigma as impediments to seeking help for mental health issues. The Youth Councillors identified the desire to increase their knowledge of mental health, how they can access support and also how they can support their friends with mental health issues. This need led to the Youth Wellness Project being created.
The Shire of Cunderdin received a $5,000 grant from FRRR via the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants program. It went toward helping increase the knowledge and skills of parents and carers of young people, as well as that of young people in Cunderdin and Meckering, with a focus on mental health support strategies and how to access external mental health support.
As part of the Youth Wellness Project, the Shire hosted the first Mental Health Parent Information Night. The session aimed to reduce stigma associated with mental health among the community and youth, with a guest speaker from Armed for Life Foundation, which focuses on how to support parents, carers and students with mental health related issues.
Research also identified an acute shortage of services and programs for young people who require early intervention and/or treatment services because they have a mental health issue. Crime statistics for the Wheatbelt show that most issues appear to be more of an anti-social manner, including online / cyber bullying, which at times progresses to physical assaults. Other issues include mindless damage, which largely is attributed to boredom.
The project that the Youth Council put forward to the Shire of Cunderdin also sought to address these critical issues that young people from the Wheatbelt face every day. The second element of the Youth Wellness project included a full day session, designed to be interactive and free flowing, sharing experiences and building the young people’s confidence in identifying mental health knowledge, and when and how to access support.
Nearly 60 students from Cunderdin District High School, along with five teachers, attended the Youth Wellness Day, which was again run by the team from Armed for Life Foundation. While plans fell through for representatives from various allied and mental health agencies to attend the day, handouts provided information on the services that are available to the community.
Liezl De Beer from the Shire of Cunderdin said that while they would have liked a few more attendees at the information night, they were proud that 15 parents chose to attend. She also said that COVID was a big disruptor, causing them to postpone the event at very short notice.
The Shire of Cunderdin and its Youth Council will continue working together with support such as the Cunderdin Community Resource Centre, Cunderdin Police Officers and local schools to continue building and strengthening their relationships to bring about improved support for local youth.
In rural communities where enduring drought and devastating bushfires have left an emotional toll, a cancer diagnosis can lead to a particularly isolating and challenging experience. With support from our Strengthening Rural Communities program, Macksville Community Health was able to make a real difference in the wellbeing of women living along the Nambucca river and living with or in remission of cancer.
As a subsidiary of the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD), Mackville Community Health provides healthcare for communities in the Nambucca Valley, NSW. Many of their successful support systems and programs are designed to address the impacts of the recent drought and bushfires.
Thanks to the support of the Fire Fight Australia Fund, they received a grant of $10,000. This allowed them to host a three-day retreat at the Yarrahapinni Ecology Centre for women living with or surviving cancer, who had been affected by the 2019/20 bushfires in the region.
The Sisters Retreat s Guided by Local Gumbaynggirr Women in a ‘Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony’, the retreat used engaging activities to educate the participants on a range of different coping mechanisms that allowed them to feel empowered and regain some control over their own lives.
The strategic nature of this program helps the organisation tackle important issues in rural communities such as declining mental health in the aftermath of the bushfires. Of the women reporting poor mental health, many were single or living remotely, with little access to their support network. By attending the Sisters Retreat, these women were able to connect with others in similar situations.
McGrath Breast Cancer Nurse, Carolyn Cross said that without grant, the project would not have gone ahead.
Travellers now have a vibrant new site to visit on the NSW Silo Art Trail, with a mural adorning the Quandialla Soldiers Memorial Hall drawing tourists to the town.
Like so many small townships in agricultural areas striving to support their community and keep services sustainable, Quandialla needed to find a way to attract visitors off the main roads and to spend time in the town. With a focus on building tourism opportunities, there was strong community support for a project that would encourage sightseers to come and support existing businesses, contributing to the economic prosperity of this small town.
Seeing an opportunity to build on the momentum created by the Silo Art Trail, the Quandialla Soldiers Memorial Hall Association (QSMHA) recognised the hall served as the perfect blank canvas to develop a large mural depicting the area’s history, development and to commemorate those who served in times of war.
Successfully securing funds through the Strengthening Rural Communities grant program, QSMHA commissioned Melbourne artist Simon White to design and paint a mural and paid for the hire of a cherry picker so higher areas of the building could be reached safely. The mural was completed in eight days and before the paint was dry created a buzz in the streets and on social media. QSMHA shared with FRRR that they are very grateful for the support and said, “Small grants are the only way groups can make projects like this a reality.”
The hall is now a landmark for the town’s main street and the grant has improved a key community venue for major events for the local community and surrounds. Along with drawing visitors to the town, the mural has also succeeded in capturing Quandilla’s history and local achievements, encouraging conversations, building awareness and strengthening community pride.