Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Initiatives funded in Nowra, Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay and Bay & Basin
In partnership with The Snow Foundation and the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation, FRRR has awarded $470,670 to community organisations across the South Coast of NSW. These grants are through the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program, which builds and supports the capacity of local not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.
IRCF is a multi-year program that gives NFPs the resources and connections they need to support one another and to establish relationships that allow them to collaborate to fill in the existing gaps in their communities. The program operates in the South Coast communities of Nowra, Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay and Bay & Basin.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the FRRR team has seen an increase in the level of interest in the IRCF program.
“One of the key elements of this program is the road mapping process where we bring local leaders together to identify gaps and, more importantly, future opportunities for their communities. This is quite unique to this program and so we have really noticed during this round, that the engagement in the road mapping process increased as everyone involved has now developed a greater understanding of how it works and how much it can benefit their local communities.
“We also noticed that community groups and NFPs are taking a much more collaborative approach to finding volunteers after volunteer engagement levels dropped off as a result of back-to-back disasters over the last couple of years. This is wonderful to see, as this program is designed specifically to encourage community organisations to work with one another and to find solutions within their own area and network,” Ms Egleton said.
Terry Snow, Founder of The Snow Foundation, which supports three regions within the IRCF program – Nowra, Bateman’s Bay and Ulladulla – said partnering with FRRR over the past three years has built stronger relationships within the South Coast communities.
“The South Coast is my home and given the challenges over the past few years, I have seen how bringing people together strengthens community. This is why the IRCF program is so good. It brings community groups together to work collaboratively and decide what they need and the best way to make it happen and each year relationships just get stronger,” Mr Snow said.
David Impey, CEO of Community Enterprise Foundation, the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s charitable arm, said they are proud of their partnership with FRRR and supporting the Bay & Basin communities.
“After what’s been an unimaginably difficult couple of years for these communities, it’s inspirational to see the community members coming together and working with one another as they once again begin to look towards building a more vibrant and resilient future. It’s this kind of dedication and willingness to support one another that will see the South Coast region thriving long into the future and that’s something that we take great pride in being part of,” Mr Impey said.
Some of the projects being funded are:
- Nowra Community Food Store Incorporated, Nowra – Planning for the Future – Define the direction of the organisation with a five-year strategic plan, operational business plan and HR framework – $13,000
- StoryFest Incorporated, Ulladulla/Shoalhaven – Fundraising for StoryFest school students – Enable the continued growth and success of StoryFest with a new website and marketing campaign – $10,000
- Rotary Club of Batemans Bay Inc, Batemans Bay/Eurobodalla – Establish and maintain the Batemans Bay Community Hub to provide information, resources and opportunities for local NFP organisations – $19,370
- Bay & Basin Community Resources Limited, Bay & Basin – Work, life and training Centre – Increase opportunities for youth to engage in training and employment with a project coordinator to establish a work, life and training centre – $30,000
In addition to the South Coast region, the IRCF South Coast program is also working in in Junee, Leeton and Nambucca Valley in partnership with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.
For more information about the Investing in Rural Community Futures program visit – https://frrr.org.au/ircf-program/.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects is below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BATEMANS BAY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
The Circle Foundation Cooperative Ltd | Building Capacity: Circle Foundation Cooperative Business Systems Development Build capacity by employing a project officer and IT enhancements to facilitate ongoing service delivery for people living with chronic illness. | Eurobodalla | $22,675 | |||
Eurobodalla Education and Therapy Services Ltd | Attract and Retain Allied Health Professionals Attract and retain specialised staff by formulating a well structured learning and development strategy for the organisation. | Batemans Bay | $20,000 | |||
The Family Place Inc | Scoping Housing Solutions - Community Creating a Better Future Stimulate innovative thinking focussed on housing solutions by engaging a project officer to develop and cost models to enable clients and broader community to sustain tenancy and support sector wide collaboration. | Moruya | $26,208 | |||
Rotary Club of Batemans Bay Inc | Batemans Bay Community Hub Establish and maintain the Batemans Bay Community Hub to provide information, resources and opportunities for local NFP organisations. | Batemans Bay | $19,370 | |||
SEARMS Community Housing Aboriginal Corporation | Living Library - Knowledge Circle Celebrating the cultural gift of language and the art of story telling in Aboriginal culture by adopting a holistic approach and sustained capabilities to community engagement. | Batemans Bay | $14,000 | |||
Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance | Batemans Bay Community Coordinator and Business Manager Strengthen governance and business systems internally, continue to connect with council and assist not for profit community organisations to reduce their on-going energy costs. | Batemans Bay Region | $20,000 | |||
BAY & BASIN PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
Bay & Basin Community Resources Ltd | Work, Life and Training Centre Increase opportunities for youth to engage in training and employment with a project coordinator to establish a work, life and training centre. | Sanctuary Point | $30,000 | |||
Sussex Inlet Foundation for Community Development | Strengthening our Foundation Strengthen the volunteer committee of the Foundation for Community Development to help them grow the ways they can support and strengthen the Sussex Inlet Community. | Sussex Inlet | $19,500 | |||
Tomerong School of Arts | Policies and Procedures Project Enable the hall to operate more effectively with the development of policies and procedures. | Tomerong | $12,000 | |||
Vincentia High School P & C Association | Launch of Walawaani-ngarn Boost the profile and awareness of the community health hub with a launch event and marketing material. | Vincentia | $9,000 | |||
NOWRA PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
Bomaderry Community Inc | Paying It Forward - Supporting Those People Who Sustain Our Community Support the volunteers to rejuvenate and focus on their passion | Bomaderry | $3,240 | |||
Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Aboriginal Corporation | Maintaining Momentum - Cullunghutti Master Plan Boost capacity to engage project officer to operationalise the strategic plan previously funded. | Shoalhaven | $20,000 | |||
Kangaroo Valley Voice Incorporated | Kangaroo Valley Hub Enable development of a community hub with the collation of information and scoping of project. | Kangaroo Valley | $15,000 | |||
Noahs Ark Centre of Shoalhaven Inc | Knowledge, Strength and Resilience- Sharing for the Future Nurture opportunity to provide intergenerational peer mentoring of professionals in the disability service. | Nowra | $7,900 | |||
Nowra Community Food Store Incorporated | Planning for the Future Define the direction of the organisation with a 5 year strategic plan, operational business plan and HR framework. | South Nowra | $13,000 | |||
Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council | Strong Foundations Establish organisational policies and procedures manual, branding and communications strategy and provide governance support to the board. | Bomaderry | $18,315 | |||
Pathways Foundation Limited | Pathways To Leadership Strengthen skills and abilities of youth mentors to deliver best practice programs locally. | Berry | $24,000 | |||
Shoalhaven Business Chamber Incorporated | Community Plus Enable the community sector to leverage the established business chamber to share knowledge, build capacity and resilience by strengthening the links between the corporate and community sector. | Shoalhaven | $20,000 | |||
Shoalhaven Community Pre School Inc | Administration and Operations Manager Support the final transition of the organisational growth and relocation of preschool. | Nowra | $30,000 | |||
The Shoalhaven Women's Resource Group Ltd | Capacity and Capability Building Prepare the organisation to achieve accreditation, develop branding and a more efficient and informative website. | Nowra | $10,000 | |||
ULLADULLA PARTNERSHIP GRANTS | ||||||
Independence Ulladulla Inc | Helping Hands Improve systems to support leadership to innovate and grow | Ulladulla | $19,000 | |||
Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber Inc | Community Connect - Information Creates Endless Possibilities Continuation of building connections within the community groups, assisting the the existing and new volunteers by capturing important information, to then share and create possibilities for the broader community. | Ulladulla | $20,830 | |||
Noahs Ark Centre of Shoalhaven Inc | Destination Ulladulla Part Two Implement communication plan and to disseminate our videos most effectively and will build on capacity in recruitment and communications into the future. | Ulladulla | $12,000 | |||
Safe Waters Community Care Inc | De-Escalation Training and Occupational Violence Prevention Training Empower staff and volunteers with the skills to de-escalate conflict and violence situations. | Ulladulla | $3,900 | |||
South Coast Bookclubs Inc | Saving and Expanding the Bookclub Support for a self-sustaining book club service in Ulladulla to create a sense of community for new and existing residents. | Ulladulla | $6,456 | |||
StoryFest Inc | StoryFest Inc - Fundraising for StoryFest Enable the continued growth and success of StoryFest with a new website and marketing campaign | Milton | $10,000 | |||
The Dunn & Lewis Youth Development Foundation Ltd | Community Spotlight Foster youth interest in community volunteering with a Youth Podcast Series. | Ulladulla | $10,795 | |||
Treading Lightly Inc | Regenerative Development Officer Role Build a Regenerative Design Model for the benefit of this and other NFP organisation as well as a wider range of stakeholders. | Ulladulla | $30,000 | |||
Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre Inc | Building Sustainability Prepare the Raft Race Committee for the future with succession planning and marketing support. | Ulladulla | $3,481 |
As thousands of Australians continue to be impacted by floods in Victoria and Tasmania, FRRR is seeking donations to meet the recovery needs of the remote, rural and regional communities that will need help and support in the coming months and years.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the Foundation has already seen local people and organisations once again step up and come together to support one another in the lead up and, as waters start to recede in some places, with the long road to recovery that they have ahead of them.
“The people and places in flood affected regions throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania will continue to feel the impacts of what’s unfolding for months and years to come. We really can’t stress enough just how big the long term social and economic consequences can be as a result of these kinds of natural disasters.
“Many of these regions, particularly those in Central Victoria, have been through this kind of disaster before, making the current floods all the more traumatic. Many members of the FRRR team themselves have spent the last few days evacuating, helping loved ones to evacuate or have been out sandbagging in their local communities.
“In the last 20 plus years, FRRR has built strong networks and relationships with the people and the community organisations that are being impacted right now and, as always, we’ll be waiting and ready to support them throughout the medium to long term recovery process. Donations to our flood appeal will help to rebuild infrastructure in these areas, address the physical and mental health challenges that occur as a result of this disaster, build the capacity of community groups and strengthen community-led recovery efforts,” Ms Egleton explained.
People can support FRRR’s Flood Recovery Appeal by donating to the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund, the Central Victorian Fund or the Strengthening Rural Communities: Prepare & Recover program.
Donations to the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund are pooled and invested to ensure that remote, rural and regional communities affected by natural disasters can access flexible, fit-for-purpose funding to support local preparedness and recovery efforts, when it’s needed. For those specifically wanting to support Central Victoria, FRRR also offers the Central Victoria Fund, which continues the legacy of the Central Victoria Community Foundation and focuses solely on that region.
Alternatively, donations can be made to FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities: Prepare and Recover program, with FRRR offering one-off, flexible grants through this program to support community organisations in these flood-impacted regions.
FRRR has supported remote, rural and regional communities across the country prepare for and recover from natural disasters since 2006. To date, FRRR has distributed around $46 million for community-led disaster recovery and resilience initiatives.
If you’d like to provide immediate assistance, below is a list of some local organisations that are helping to coordinate support in affected areas:
- Tomorrow Today Foundation – Benalla
- Border Trust – Albury Wodonga Region Community Foundation
- Greater Shepparton Foundation
- Into Our Hands – North East Victoria
- Shepparton FoodShare
- Home – Bendigo Foodshare
- Neighbourhood Houses
- GIVIT
- Rural Aid
- Spontaneous Volunteering – Maribyrnong, Seymour, Rochester, Shepperton and Echuca
Finally, if you would like to volunteer, BlazeAid is currently in the process of recruiting and assembling crews of volunteers.
53 priority projects receive grants through Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants programs
Fifty-three important community projects across the length and breadth of remote, rural and regional Australia will share $250,000 in funding, thanks to the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program.
This is the second year of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, which offers grants of up to $5,000 for projects that contribute to community wellbeing and vibrancy in remote, rural and regional communities.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Director of Corporate Affairs Carissa Buckland says they received more than 300 applications from communities right across the country.
“The strong number of applications we continue to receive for this program clearly indicates the need for this level of support for grassroots, not-for-profit organisations. So, we’re delighted to award grants to so many diverse projects that help these remote, rural and regional communities thrive,” says Ms Buckland.
“Part of the application process involves the local Nutrien store actively endorsing each project and application. Our stores are very integrated in their communities and our teams are passionate about providing meaningful support to positively impact the towns in which they live and work in, so this is a really important part of the process.
“This year we have approved grants to enhance and support the delivery of community events, including new marquees, grandstand seating and improved website functionality to support local show and expo event management. Critical funding will also go towards a diverse range of restorations, upgrades and new equipment for community facilities – from a toilet roof to rejuvenated courtyards to outdoor seating and kitchens, data projectors and lawn mowers. There’s even funding for sensory, Zen, bush tucker and community gardens, with each project designed to inclusively meet the needs of their communities. While they are not large value grants, these projects enable community activity to build connection and, importantly, support volunteers in all their efforts,” says Ms Buckland.
The Program is proudly run in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton says she appreciates organisations like Nutrien Ag Solutions partnering with FRRR to support the priorities of grassroots organisations that are the heartbeat of remote, rural and regional communities across Australia.
“The volume and nature of these applications is a strong sign that rural community life is returning to normal, although it also signifies just how challenging it is to raise these funds locally and the extent of the need that exists.
“It’s really pleasing for us that so much of the funding – nearly 30% – will go to communities with fewer than 500 people, which makes fundraising really hard. Most of the groups are also located in outer regional, remote or very remote areas of the country,” Ms Egleton explains.
The full list of recipients is available below. Some of the organisations and projects being supported include:
- Illabo Showground Land Manager, Illabo, NSW – Build capacity at the local show grounds with a WIFI upgrade, defibrillator installation and new broadcast system to enhance operations and experience for all users. $5,000
- Dagun Community Group Inc., Dagun, QLD – Enhance community connections with the restoration of the Dagun railway station labyrinth and Mary Valley agricultural history display, and through the community garden project. $4,900
- Limestone Coast Multicultural Network Incorporated, Naracoorte, SA – Build organisational capability with development of a strategic plan to support strengthening the Limestone Coast Multicultural Network. $4,952
- Hamilton District Agricultural Show Society, Hamilton, TAS – Build, grow and protect skills and networks with four workshops focusing on entrepreneurism, rural OH&S and resilience.$5,000
- Kyabram Blue Light, Kyabram, VIC – Increase social engagement opportunities and activities for youth in Kyabram to support their healthy growth and development. $5,000
- Lower Kalgan Community Association Incorporated, Albany, WA – Build resilience through a Fire Resilience Workshop – “Making your Property Fire Safe and Sustainable” exploring preparedness and land management aligned to changing climate impacts. $5,000
The third round of the Program is expected to open around June 2023. Community groups looking for funding in the interim should head to www.frrr.org.au/find-funding.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
A Taste of Paradise Organic Farm Limited | Outdoor Kitchen Construction Enhance facilities where the community comes together and connects with the installation of an outdoor kitchen. | Broughton Village | $5,000 | |||
Broken Hill Branch The Australian Stock Horse Society Incorporated Topar Christmas Tree | Topar Christmas Tree Improve social connectedness and build resilience by supporting the Topar Christmas Party for 60 adults and 40 children in the isolated area. | Little Topar | $4,975 | |||
Challenge Community Services | Creation of a Zen Sensory Garden at Challenge's Patterson Street Disability Site Increase inclusion with the creation of a Zen Sensory Garden at Challenge's Patterson Street Disability site. | Tamworth | $4,550 | |||
Delungra Memorial Bowling & Recreation Club Ltd | Rejuvenate, Protect and Provide Enhance organisational capacity with the provision of adequate storage for the Delungra Memorial Bowling Club. | Delungra | $5,000 | |||
Dorrigo Community Nursery Inc | Water Resilience for the Dorrigo Community Nursery Improve the water efficiency of Dorrigo Community Garden with a new water tank enabling multiple volunteer projects. | Dorrigo | $5,000 | |||
Gulgong Show Society Inc | Operation Seating Increase the organisations ability to support their community with the provision of seating under the sheltered area of the Gulgong Showgrounds. | Gulgong | $3,427 | |||
Illabo Showground Land Manager | Facilities Enhancement Enhance community facilities safety by upgrading the broadcasting box, installing a defibrillator and enhancing Wifi facilities at the Illabo Showgrounds. | Illabo | $5,000 | |||
Laggan Hall Land Manager | Laggan Hall Ride-on Mower Boost volunteer vitality with the provision of a ride on mower supporting the maintenance of the Laggan Hall grounds.. | Laggan | $5,000 | |||
Lions Club of Young Incorporated | Shelving for Lions Shed Increase the capacity of the Lions Club of Young with the installation of appropriate shelving in their storage shed. | Young | $4,263 | |||
Nyngan Ag Expo Incorporated | Nyngan Ag Expo Website, Interactive Site Map and Exhibitor Booking Upgrade Build organisational capacity by upgrading the website of Nygan Ag Expo with site booking functionality to reduce volunteer efforts and increase efficiency in operations. | Nyngan | $5,000 | |||
two eight two eight inc | two eight two eight Lighting Upgrade Increase access to community facilities with the preservation of the historic Gulargambone hall. | Gulargambone | $5,000 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Artworks Granite Belt INC | Stanthorpe QFS Restoration Project Preserve local history with the restoration of the Stanthorpe QFS building. | Stanthorpe | $5,000 | |||
Dagun Community Group Inc | Mary Valley Agricultural History Display and Dagun Railway Station Labyrinth/Community Garden Project Enhance community connections with the restoration of a labyrinth and agricultural history display supported by social gardening days. | Dagun | $4,900 | |||
Geham State School Parent & Citizens Association | New Data Projector for the Geham School/Community Activities Building Upgrade community facilities with a new data projector to support community engagement including movie nights, local events and school presentations. | Geham | $5,000 | |||
Hungerford Sports Association Inc | Portable Shade Tents for Hungerford Community Increase the organisational capacity of Hungerford Sports Association with the provision of portable shade tents to support community events and activities. | Hungerford | $5,000 | |||
Isis Community Pre-School & Kindergarten Association Inc | Indigenous Entrance Art and Bush Tucker Garden Increase cultural awareness at the Isis Community Kindergarten with the installation of an Indigenous artwork and Bush Tucker Garden. | Childers | $5,000 | |||
Lions Club of Home Hill | Replacement Gazebos and Catering Bar-b-ques Increase organisational capacity with the provision of gazebos and catering equipment for the Lions Club of Home Hill. | Home Hill | $5,000 | |||
Mundubbera Horse and Pony Club Inc | Shaded Grandstand for Mundubbera Community Enhance community facilities by supporting the installation of a shaded grandstand at the Mundubbera Showgrounds. | Mundubbera | $5,000 | |||
Prospect Community Services Ltd | Charters Towers & the Region Wellness Luncheon Enhance general health and wellbeing with the provision of a series of community wellness activities across the Charters Towers region. | Charters Towers | $5,000 | |||
Tambo Child Care Parents Group Inc | Tambo Childcare Centre Sensory Garden Project Enhance engagement in traditional educational settings with the development of a sensory garden at the Tambo Child Care facility. | Tambo | $5,000 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Booleroo Centre Community Development and Tourism Association Incorporated | Pass the Popcorn! Increase functionality of the local Booleroo Hall with the provision of a projector for community information sharing and entertainment. | Booleroo Centre | $5,000 | |||
Bute History Group Inc | Blinds Installation Build organisational capacity for the Bute Historical Society with new window blinds to protect their artefacts from sun damage. | Bute | $4,660 | |||
Cambrai Sports Club Inc | Installation of Solar Power to Enhance Regional Community Facility Reduce organisational overheads with the installation of Solar power at the Cambrai Sports Club. | Cambrai | $5,000 | |||
Crystal Brook Kindergarten | A Path of Intergenerational Connection Increase community connections with "A path of intergenerational Connection" enabling kindergarten children and residents of Roseview Aged care to come together in a safe space. | Crystal Brook | $5,000 | |||
Limestone Coast Multicultural Network Incorporated | Strategic Plan Development - Limestone Coast Multicultural Network Build organisational capacity with a strategic plan and vision to support the Limestone Coast Multicultural Network development. | Naracoorte | $4,952 | |||
Lucindale Area School | Aquaponics Student Learning Facility Enhance the learning opportunities at Lucindale Area School with aquaponics equipment to enable community vegetable growing. | Lucindale | $4,633 | |||
Marree Sports Club Inc | Sound System for Marree Sports Club Increase the organisational capacity of the Maree Sports Club with the installation of a sound system. | Marree | $5,000 | |||
Paskeville Football Club Incorporated | Kitchen Upgrade Increase functionality of the Paskeville Community centre by relocating the hot water system. | Paskeville | $5,000 | |||
TASMANIA | ||||||
Community Garden Wynyard Inc | Greenhouse Construction Increase community activities and opportunities to connect with the expansion of the Wynyard Community Garden facility. | Wynyard | $5,000 | |||
Hamilton District Agricultural Show Society | ‘Build, Grow, Protect’ Build community capability with four workshops focused on building resilience in individuals, growing their networks and protecting the rural community. | Hamilton | $5,000 | |||
May Shaw Health Centre Inc | Beach Wheelchair Project Increase access with the provision of an all surface wheelchair enabling beach access for residents and visitors of May Shaw Health with poor mobility. | Swansea | $5,000 | |||
North Eastern Agricultural & Pastoral Society Incorporated | Light Towers Increase organisational sustainability with the provision of light towers to mitigate regular hiring costs for the North Eastern Agricultural and Pastoral Society. | Scottsdale | $3,681 | |||
Parkham Community Inc | Restoration of Parkham Community Centre floor Support the development of places where the community can connect, learn and gather by restoring the Parkham Church as the Parkham Community Centre. | Parkham | $4,901 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
A Better Life For Foster Kids Incorporated | Crisis Cases for Foster Care Support vulnerable foster children transitioning to care with essential item packs to provide comfort and reduce emotional stress. | Sale | $5,000 | |||
Arapiles Community Theatre Inc Natimuk & District Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee | Natimuk Soldiers Memorial Hall Audio Visual System Boost community vitality with the installation of a data projector and sound system at the Natimuk Soldiers Memorial Hall for cultural events and increased hall usage. | Natimuk | $5,000 | |||
Boort District Agricultural and Pastoral Society Incorporated | Professional Marquees for Boort Show! Enhance the organisational capacity of Boort District Agricultural and Pastoral Society Incorporated with the provision of marquees for use at community events and activities. | Boort | $5,000 | |||
Cobden Technical School | Outdoor Meeting Space / Outdoor Classroom Improve the functionality of the outdoor classroom at Cobden Technical College with improved wife and seating, built by the local Men's Shed. | Cobden | $5,000 | |||
Connewirricoo Community Centre Incorporated | Connewirricoo Community Centre Toilets Roofing Restore community assets with repairs to the roof and walls of the Connewirricoo Community Centre ablution block. | Connewirricoo | $5,000 | |||
Gallery Central Incorporated | Gallery Lighting Improvement Improve community facilities in Nhill with new lighting at the local community art gallery to enhance visitor and local experience. | Nhill | $2,873 | |||
Heathcote Community House Incorperated | Heathcote Sustainable Community House Build organisational capacity and capability with the implementation of sustainability initiatives including a roof top solar installation. | Heathcote | $5,000 | |||
Kyabram Blue Light | Kyabram Blue Light Youth Engagement Activities 2022-2023 Increase youth connection with the provision of Blue Light activities and events for Kyabram and surrounding districts. | Kyabram | $5,000 | |||
Pomonal Progress Association Incorporated | Mini Foody Festival - Towards a Resilient Pomonal Provide access to activities to increase community connection and resilience by hosting the Pomonal Mini Foody Festival. | Pomonal | $5,000 | |||
Seymour Puckapunyal Community Radio Incorporated | Relocation of 103.9FM Community Radio Station Increase the broadcasting network of the Seymore Puckapunyal Community Radio by relocating the radio station to a more accessible site. | Seymour | $5,000 | |||
The Trustee for Country Fire Authority & Brigades Donations Fund Sandsmere Rural Fire Brigade | Training Equipment and Wellbeing Session Funding Boost organisational capacity with the provision of training equipment and volunteer support for Kaniva Country Fire Authority. | Kaniva | $2,749 | |||
Toora Community Action Team Incorporated | Toora: GunaiKurnai Country Preserve understanding of local origins and reflect on the impacts of a changing climate on the Toora community with the installation of a sculpture in the township. | Toora | $5,000 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
1922 & You Inc | 1922 & You Centenary Courtyard Project Rejuvenate community connections in Corrigin through revitalising the courtyard as a landing place for social and wellbeing activity. | Corrigin | $3,500 | |||
Dowerin District High School Parents & Citizens Association Incorporated | Child Protection Education - Safe4Kids Workshops Enhance child safety practice through training of teacher, parents and children to build awareness and develop community skills and capability for addressing issues. | Dowerin | $5,000 | |||
Geraldton Community Toy Library | The Geraldton Toy Library Building Rejuvenation Project Increase organisational capacity with the provision of adequate storage and fencing upgrades at the Geraldton Toy Library facility. | Geraldton | $5,000 | |||
Gingin Playgroup Incorporated | Community Engagement with Playgroup Increase community resilience and connections with the provision of community events at activities at the Gingin Playgroup. | Gingin | $2,400 | |||
Lower Kalgan Community Association Incorporated | Fire Resilience Workshop - Making your Property Fire Safe and Sustainable in the Great Southern Improve community resilience and preparedness with a workshop on property fire safety and climate change impact awareness. | Albany | $5,000 | |||
Pemberton Sports Club Inc | Mower for the Pemberton Sports Club Increase the vitality of volunteers with the provision of a ride on mower for the Pemberton Sports club. | Pemberton | $5,000 | |||
Shire of Morawa | Sup and Paint Morawa - Art Evenings Create opportunities for the community to connect with the arts with the delivery of Art lessons in Morawa. | Morawa | $5,000 | |||
Tom Price Community Garden Inc | Revegetation of Bush Tucker Area Increase access to community activities with the revegetation of the Bush Tucker in the Community Garden. | Tom Price | $5,000 |
In partnership with the Sally Foundation and ABC, FRRR is awarding grants to support six young leaders who are working on projects that respond to challenges, issues and opportunities in remote, rural and regional Australia. The young people have partnered with local community organisations to receive the grants.
Through a Giving Sub Fund, the Sally Foundation partners with FRRR to ensure that funding reaches groups that they could not normally fund, usually due to their tax or organisational status.
This is the third round of this program, which builds on ABC’s Trailblazer program, which in turn builds on the Heywire program. This round was designed to help Trailblazers from 2021 or 2022 develop their leadership skills and their capacity to make a difference in their communities.
Co-founder of The Sally Foundation, Geraldine Roche, said “In establishing the Trailblazer Development Fund, Mike and I have sought to provide assistance at a key point in these community leaders journey to further their projects.”
FRRR’s Philanthropic Services Manager, Jo Kemp, said that the partnership between Sally Foundation, ABC and FRRR to offer this program is an exciting way to build the skills of young people.
“These six grants will help these Trailblazers grow momentum for their ideas, get runs on the board and then be in a position to leverage their experience for future funding opportunities.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young people who have developed their projects through the ABC Heywire program to shape them into a ‘funding-ready’ application. A huge asset to the program is having Trailblazer alumni participate on the grant Advisory Panel, providing unique insights, curiosity and constructive feedback to the applicants.
“This year’s successful applicants tackled a range of issues, including access to STEM learning for children in remote communities, increasing wildlife rescue volunteers on the Limestone coast and raising awareness of children living with chronic illnesses in rural and regional NSW. The diversity of projects and people supported is a wonderful example of the range of issues that are driving young leaders in rural and regional communities across Australia,” Ms Kemp said.
Read the full list of projects supported below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
Hunter Business Centre | Jack’s Digital Outreach: The Giggle and Learn Program Grow community awareness and involvement of children living with chronic illness in regional areas through the creation of fun and engaging media content and educational resources. | Newcastle | $6,330 | |||
NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
Melaleuca Refugee Centre Torture & Trauma Survivor's Service of the Northern Territory Inc | Cornucopia Build the capacity of Trailblazer participant to deliver an art and storytelling project profiling rural and regional migrants and refugees in the Northern Territory through the purchase of software, office supplies, and furniture. | Darwin | $5,330 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
RoboCoast Sunshine Coast Robotics Association | Red Dirt Robotics Increase access to STEM learning, including robotics and coding, for regional and remote children by building the operational capacity of Red Dirt Robotics. | Sunshine Coast | $4,335 | |||
Rotary Club of Sunnybank Hills Inc | Skating Towards Inclusion Boost community awareness and accessibility for people with disabilities to participate in a wider range of activities through Wheel Chair Moto Cross skate park demonstrations events and workshops in regional towns and cities. | Sunnybank Hills | $4,340 | |||
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Queensland Section) Limited | Aviatrix Australia Increase awareness of aviation career pathways for students in rural communities, particularly girls, through an educational podcast series and school visitation program. | Townsville | $4,335 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
South East Animal Welfare League of South Australia Inc | Rescuing the Rescuers Increase availability of wildlife rescue services across the Limestone Coast in SA through delivery of training, supplies and equipment, and essential health vaccines for volunteers. | Mount Gambier | $5,330 |
Fourteen mental health initiatives across remote, rural and regional Australia will share in $204,607 in grants awarded through FRRR’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program.
Thanks to CCI Giving, the charitable foundation established by Catholic Church Insurance (CCI), these grants will support grassroots, community driven projects that increase social participation, help to reduce social isolation and encourage community members who are at risk of, or are experiencing, mental health issues to seek help. FRRR and CCI Giving are now in the fifth year of their partnership.
This year, the grants range from $8,000 for an initiative that will build the confidence of primary school children in Mount Murchison, QLD to $20,000 for a project that will help various communities in the Northern Territory to better understand what a developing mental health problem or crisis looks like, and respond appropriately.
Jeremy Yipp, CCI Chief Risk Officer of CCI and Chair of CCI Giving, said that the sustained interest in the program is a sign of how essential it is.
“Each year, we receive applications and expressions of interests that really highlight the gap in funding when it comes to flexible grants that are geared towards grassroots mental health programs and services. The goal of this program is to help fill that gap and offer rural communities a say in how their mental health resources are used. After all, they are the people who are being directly impacted,” said Mr Yipp.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said this program is particularly crucial now because of the increase in mental health struggles in rural Australia stemming from pressures of the pandemic and other natural disasters like floods, bushfires and drought.
“The last few years have seen remote, rural and regional communities facing challenges like never before. Often these events occur one after the other – or even at the same time. This has meant that many people in rural communities have been unable to access mental health services or support at a time when they need it most.
“In this round, we were delighted to see an increase in applications from the Northern Territory. Remote communities are often the places with the most limited access to mental health services, so it’s great to be able to help fill that gap. We also saw more requests for funding to support initiatives focussed on young people, and again, we are pleased to be able to support several of those projects to help equip them with the skills and strategies to cope with the many challenges they face,” said Ms Egleton.
Some of the 14 initiatives being funded include:
- Trustee for St Francis Xavier Primary, Lake Cargelligo – Lake Cargelligo, NSW – Earlymind – $9,062 – Develop resilience, a positive mindset andawareness of self by implementing and embedding The Resilience Project School Partnership Program to support the social and emotional health and wellbeing of students and the broader community.
- Bluearth Foundation – Ltyentye Apurte, NT – Active Leaders Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) – $13,000 – Develop the confidence, resilience and self-awareness of senior students to enable them to create and guide physical activity and wellbeing programs for the primary school students to encourage and promote physical and mental health and wellbeing.
- Kanyini Connections Ltd – Doonan, QLD – Young Veterans PTSD Program – $20,000 – Support a tailored equine therapy program by providing funds for essential program materials, equipment and consumables to assist 48 young veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who have not responded to other therapy options.
- Lameroo Forward Inc – Lameroo, SA – Southern Mallee Mental Health Presentations – $10,000 – Grow community understanding of mental health and increase awareness by bringing in a guest speaker to share vital tips and advice at two community presentations.
- Zoe Support Australia – Mildura, VIC – Mentally Healthy Mothers – $20,000 – Augment the current support for vulnerable young mothers by employing a case manager to provide support wrap around support, connections with community supports and knowledge around mental health for those who are struggling with their mental health.
- Tradies IN Sight – Dubbo region , NSW The Real Reconnections Tour $10,000 – Support tradies in rural communities to connect and develop trusted relationships that support, empower and encourage gain better understanding of mental health issues and break down stigma around dealing with emotional struggles.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
The Rural Woman Co-Operative Ltd | Mental Health Matters - Circles of Support Enhance the mental health and wellbeing of rural women by providing a series of professionally facilitated and moderated online groups and a training program to enable participants to connect, learn, seek support and thrive. | Armidale | $14,100 | |||
Tradies IN Sight Inc | The Real Reconnections Tour Support rural communities to connect and develop trusted relationships that support, empower and encourage gain better understanding of mental health issues and break down stigma around dealing with emotional struggles. | Dubbo, Tullamore, Narromine, Coonamble, Parkes | $10,000 | |||
Trustee for St Francis Xavier Primary, Lake Cargelligo | Earlymind Develop resilience, a positive mindset and awareness of self by implementing and embedding The Resilience Project School Partnership Program to support the social and emotional health and wellbeing of students and the broader community. | Lake Cargelligo | $9,062 | |||
NORTHERN TERRITORY | ||||||
SabrinasReach4Life Inc | Heads Up Increase the capacity and confidence of local communities to better understand what a developing mental health problem or crisis looks like, and develop the skills and confidence to offer and apply help offering behaviours to reduce the incidences of suicide. | Darwin, Jabiru, Litchfield, Katherine | $20,000 | |||
Bluearth Foundation | Active Leaders Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) Develop the confidence, resilience and selfawareness of senior students to enable them to create and guide physical activity and wellbeing programs for the primary school students to encourage and promote physical and mental health and wellbeing. | Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) | $13,000 | |||
QUEENSLAND | ||||||
Chinchilla Family Support Centre Inc | Eating With Friends in Chinchilla Increase social connection and awareness of support services by initiating an Eating With Friends program to improve the mental health of isolated members of the community, particularly older people and FIFO workers. | Chinchilla | $11,950 | |||
Kanyini Connections Ltd | Young Veterans PTSD Program Support a tailored equine therapy program by providing funds for essential program materials, equipment and consumables to assist 48 young veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who have not responded to other therapy options. | Doonan | $20,000 | |||
Mount Murchison State School | Game Changer: helping Students Achieve their True Potential Cultivate confidence in primary school children to cope with life and change by supporting five schools to implement a locally facilitated program, including staff development, to foster positive learning environments and enhance social and emotional wellbeing. | Mount Murchison | $8,000 | |||
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Lameroo Forward Inc | Southern Mallee Mental Health Presentations Grow community understanding of mental health and increase awareness by bringing in a guest speaker to share vital tips and advice at two community presentations. | Lameroo | $10,000 | |||
VICTORIA | ||||||
Crossenvale Community Group Inc | Yarn in the Park Create a safe, welcoming space for locals experiencing mental health issues to attend weekly support group sessions to receive support, connection, information and resources. | Echuca | $18,295 | |||
Zoe Support Australia | Mentally Healthy Mothers Augment the current support for vulnerable young mothers by employing a case manager to provide support wrap around support, connections with community supports and knowledge around mental health for those who are struggling with their mental health. | Mildura | $20,000 | |||
Let's Talk Foundation Ltd | LETS TALK, Woolshed to Clubhouse Build community engagement with the LETS TALK initiative through a series of local presentations that encourage helpseeking behaviour, and raise the level of community competence in supporting someone with mental health issues. | Terang, Hamilton, Port Fairy | $15,225 | |||
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
Northam Senior High School | Northam Senior High School Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Program Improve the knowledge, skills, and selfefficacy of Northam SHS staff and parents/caregivers to teach, model and support social and emotional competencies to students, and support students to improve their own social and emotional wellbeing. | Northam | $20,000 | |||
York District High School | Social and Emotional Learning Programs Improve the social and emotional wellbeing of K-Year 10 students through teacher training and purchase of resources to support the implementation across the school curriculum. | York | $14,975 |
The NSW / VIC border towns of Albury / Wodonga and surrounds were severely impacted by the cross-border lockdowns during COVID restrictions. THose who live in these adjacent communities consider them one town, yet community members were unable to cross the border unless there was an extenuating circumstance. That meant families were unable to support isolated elderly family members and those living in challenging conditions, and this was exacerbated by the devastating effects of the Black Saturday bushfires which also affected the community.
The COVID Regional Community Support program, which was funded by the New South Wales Government and delivered by FRRR, was designed to support community groups and associated volunteers that incurred expenses in delivering food and personal care items to individuals and families affected by COVID lockdowns, by contributing funds to support ongoing service provision.
One such organisation to benefit from this program with a reimbursement grant of $13,500 was Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare, who has supported those in need in their community since 2011, and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic was remarkable.
FoodShare commenced their Community Pantry program in 2020, which enabled food hampers to be delivered directly to members of the community. To alleviate some of the hardship experienced by families in the region due to the long-term impacts of COVID and cross-border lockdowns, they also coordinated two local pop-up hamper drive-throughs in September 2021, which provided 300 families with emergency food relief.
During the peak of the COVID outbreak, 1,200 food hampers, including culturally appropriate ingredients, were distributed locally across the region. More than half of these were delivered directly to local homes as part of a coordinated COVID emergency relief effort.
To facilitate the immediate increase in demand for FoodShare’s services, operations were extended to seven days a week. This put a strain on resources, particularly on volunteers, but was necessary to keep the community safe. On average, 30 households received hampers each day, and in many instances, this doubled on occasions during the peak of the local COVID outbreak.
To provide specialised support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, FoodShare was supported by local organisations such as Albury-Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council (AWECC) and Murray Valley Sanctuary Refugee Group. These agencies took enquiries from CALD households who were in isolation due to the COVID outbreak. These agencies also assisted by nominating culturally specific ingredients and in some instances. their volunteers purchased additional food items and delivered these to the CALD households.
In addition to delivering hampers to local residents, FoodShare was also asked to deliver food and personal care hampers to various locations where people had been forced to isolate in accordance with Health Orders, including Rutherglen Hotels, Howlong and the Albury Caravan Park. Over 4,500 kilometres were logged from October to December last year on just one of the FoodShare vans, which was dedicated to supporting COVID operations. To support the heightened increase in demand, an additional van was also hired in November to support delivering hampers to COVID households.
This is a wonderful example of the critical role that so many local NFPs played, and the way in which they collaborated with other groups to support their community. FRRR is pleased to have been able to support this program and help the NSW Government to reimburse FoodShare for some of the costs incurred in supporting their community.
In many aged care facilities social isolation among elderly residents has been an ongoing battle, especially during COVID, as restrictions and lockdowns prevented family and friends visiting loved ones for almost two years. Luckily for the residents of Eventide Lutheran Homes (ELH) in Hamilton, Victoria, the future is now looking decidedly more social.
Thanks to a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) grant supported by Ian Rollo Currie Foundation, ELH was able to purchase a golf buggy that has been assisting with the transport of residents with mobility and sight issues around the facility. This has been especially useful for building social connection among residents who previously may not have engaged with organised activities due to the difficulty of getting around.
The golf buggy has three seats available to move the residents around in a comfortable and protected way across the facility, including the gardens, the golf course, and any other location the residents wish to visit.
The purchase of the buggy has been an absolute success for not only the residents, but for the staff and volunteers as well. After 18 months of almost constant lockdowns, the volunteers and social activities staff have been very excited to see more activities in the facility and to see the enjoyment of the residents. Staff members have also been seen taking more ownership over projects and events within the facility.
In one instance, a resident was taken for a drive around a nearby golf course where he had previously played golf with a handicap of four for 50 years. He was visibly moved by the experience of visiting the golf course once again.
The buggy arrived at Eventide on the 8 November 2021 and was christened with a celebration morning tea and rides for residents outside. Unfortunately, the weather was not so kind, and the rides had to be cut short. But since then, the buggy has been moving people around the grounds with no issues.
“Apart from the obvious enjoyment of the residents it was exciting to see different staff members taking ownership and being part of the project. After 18 months of almost constant lockdown, none or very few volunteers and few social activities staff were very excited to have social activities in the facility and see the enjoyment of the residents. This had a positive effect on staff and they are busy planning events for the buggy.
Visitors who have been prevented from freely seeing their loved ones for almost 2 years have been excited and engaged in the project and will be able to take their loved ones for rides outside.”
Picture this: the year is 1919 and you’re standing on the white sandy beach of Lucky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula coast in South Australia, looking up at the first beach shack to be built on the beach. The sun is warm, the water is perfect, and Lucky Bay is the idyllic holiday spot for the surrounding communities of Cowell, Kimba and Cleve.
Now in the 21st century, there are 125 beach shacks, and families from all around still come to visit the Bay!
The Lucky Bay Shack Owners Association (LBSOA) was established in 1950, and its role is to improve the environment and lifestyle of the Lucky Bay settlement for all residents and visitors to enjoy. This includes making sure the beach and local facilities are ship shape and ready to go for incoming holiday makers who are able to rent the beach shacks, as well as local fishermen and caravanners who use the facilities.
With an active role in the community, LBSOA wanted to do something that would bring some joy and a smile to the faces of the visitors to their little town. After prolonged drought, many locals were finding that holidaying with the family was simply a luxury not afforded, especially with livestock to attend to. But Lucky Bay is only 15 km north of Cowell, which makes it a perfect location for farming families to escape to, while still being able to tend to their farms.
Safe play = laughing children and happy parents
LBSOA sought funding from FRRR through the Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) program to support their ‘Laughter at Lucky Bay’ project, which would see a three staged plan to make the holiday destination more enticing by developing a child safe playground and surrounding facilities for parents and adults to enjoy.
Funded by the Australian Government, LBSOA received a $51,597 TTTT grant towards stage one of the plan: the purchase of new playground equipment, shade structures, soft fall sand, and fencing.
LBSOA’s President Sue Chase said they were overwhelmed by the community response, once they saw the works underway.
“What we were most astounded by is people’s enthusiasm to participate in working bees, and I think this stemmed from them seeing the playground come to life. Many people in the community provided their time to get the playground up and running. We are also proud of the funds we have raised. Our first ambition was to raise enough funds to contribute our share to the ‘Laughter at Lucky Bay’ playground project. However, we were amazed at the success of our fundraising, which, together with the other grants we received, allowed us to construct a shelter and install a BBQ shed and storage area near the playground,” she said.
The official opening of the playground in January 2021 was attended by hundreds of people who enjoyed the food stalls, jumping pillow, face painting and crab racing activities on offer.
These events not only raised vital funds to support the upkeep of the facilities, but also reinforced a real sense of community participation, lots of fun and helped people get to know one another better.
When asked what they were most proud of, LBSOA said the sheer number of children and even teenagers taking full advantage of the new playground made them so pleased. Extra facilities like a table and chairs and the BBQ have also encouraged parents and adults to spend time together and socialise, giving them a break from the ongoing pressures and stressors that drought can bring.
Local NFP groups sought as lead partners in 35 regions across remote, rural and regional areas
Following the announcement by Senator The Hon. Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) are pleased to announce the opening of the first program in the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.
The Initiative is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and designed to help agriculture-dependent communities across remote, rural and regional Australia enhance their preparedness for drought.
The $29.6 million investment over three years builds on the Future Drought Fund’s previous Networks to Build Drought Resilience program (led by FRRR) and the Drought Resilience Leaders program (led by ARLF).
There are five elements to the Initiative, the first of which is the Community Impact Program. This is a place-based program designed to support community members and not-for-profit organisations in 35 regions across remote, rural and regional Australia to drive local action that helps prepare for drought. An integrated package of support for community networks, there are two main components:
FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Climate Solutions Portfolio Lead Nina O’Brien said that the program takes a place-based approach, recognising the need for a bespoke approach in different communities.
“Rural communities are better able to withstand the impacts of events like drought when they are strong and well connected. The overall aim of this program is to facilitate increased social connection, strengthen network opportunities and link capacity building opportunities to ensure widespread local benefit, so that communities are better prepared for the future.
“That will look different in each community, which is why we’ll be working alongside community members and organisations to drive local action that best helps each community prepare for drought.
“We’ve clustered LGA’s into 35 regions and we’re seeking a locally-based not-for-profit to act as the lead applicant and work collaboratively with other local organisations to plan and undertake activities that increase drought preparedness over a multi-year period.
“The program has an emphasis on engaging First Nations communities and younger people in leading drought resilience planning and action.
“The Community Impact Grants can fund projects, events, initiatives, training, capability building and small-scale community infrastructure projects.
“This will be a very collaborative program, with FRRR and ARLF working closely on the ground with the successful communities to define priorities, scope and delivery of the project. In addition, there will be access to expertise and networking opportunities,” Ms O’Brien explained.
As part of the program, ARLF will offer a number of optional and complementary Leadership Development Activities at no cost to the successful applicants. These are designed to strengthen the leadership capabilities of communities to build individual and community drought resilience.
ARLF’s Chief Executive Officer Matt Linnegar said that because every lead organisation and region will be at a different point in their resilience journey, ARLF has a number of options that communities can tap into.
“We have five leadership development activities, ranging from intensive residential leadership programs to a series of deep-dives into particular leadership topics to group coaching. Each is underpinned by the concepts of adaptive leadership, resilience and network leadership.
“Applicants will need to include their preference for leadership development activities when they lodge their express of interest for the Community Impact Program, and we will work closely with applicants to refine their preferences as we move through the collaborative project design phase,” Mr Linnegar explained.
The locations and projects in each of the 35 regions will be chosen based on potential drought impact, community readiness and complementarity with other government and philanthropic investments.
Learn more about the program by visiting www.frrr.org.au/impact-program.
Interested groups can also join an online Information Session on 1 September at 12pm AEST. Register here: https://rural-leaders-au.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIocOmsqzIvH9Re35odkOG0yqt99F7BPEga
The Rathdowney Memorial Grounds Association (RMGA) was established in 1947 to manage the Rathdowney Memorial Grounds and to organise an annual campdraft in honour of the young men in the district who lost their lives during the war.
Today, the Memorial Grounds and Caravan Park are managed by a small committee of local people, and the venue is used for a range of sport and community activities, including soccer, pony clubs, campdrafting, markets and camping. It also serves as a central place to coordinate the community response to natural disasters and emergencies, and was used by residents displaced in the 2019 Black Summer bushfires.
The annual campdraft is popular with locals and visitors alike, and central to the town’s identity and prosperity. It attracts around 1,000 visitors who come for the weekend and spend at the grounds and at local shops, making a vital contribution to the local economy. In 2020, the campdraft was cancelled due to COVID and the whole community suffered financially and socially.
The open-air equestrian arena at the Rathdowney Memorial Grounds was inundated by heavy rain in March 2021 and the arena surface was so badly damaged that the annual campdraft had to be postponed. Plans to refurbish the sand in the arena were delayed because the flood-damaged surface needed to be re-levelled, compacted and protected with crusher dust before new sand was added.
RMGA received a $15,000 Rebuilding Futures grant funded by Suncorp Group that allowed them to repair the equestrian arena, and to mitigate the impacts of future flood events on the Rathdowney Memorial Grounds.
President of RMGA Andrew Buchanan said that during the project delivery phase, the region continued to experience unprecedented rain, which held up the work. However this actually proved to be invaluable because the work that was being done was tested and could be improved straightaway.
“The arena is now safe to use regardless of the weather (exceptional circumstances not included), which allows the community to be able to plan and feel sure that our events will be able to go on regardless. The entire community is so grateful to be able to utilise the arena. This has had a huge impact towards the connectedness within our area.”