26 projects funded in Victoria’s dairy farming regions

The Working in Dairy Communities (WIDC) Small Grants program, which is run in partnership between the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Gardiner Dairy Foundation, has awarded $121,584 in grants to support 26 projects in Victoria’s three dairy regions.

Now in its 18th year, the WIDC Small Grants program offers up to $5,000 to support community-driven projects that strengthen Victorian dairy communities through enhancing community infrastructure and local capacity.

Dr Clive Noble, Gardiner Dairy Foundation Chief Executive, said this year the Working in Dairy Communities grant program is supporting projects that support early childhood and adult education and stimulate economic recovery. These projects will have long-lasting benefits for these communities.

“Things have been tough for small towns reliant on dairy. These grants will help communities on their renewal journey by supporting projects that will encourage community engagement and social connectedness.

“The diversity of the projects reflects the differing needs of dairy communities too. For example, in Murrabit, a street beautification project will boost morale and add cultural vibrancy, while the funding of children’s activities at the Tarwin District Auto Festival should help to bring families into town for the November event.”

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said the longstanding partnership with Gardiner Dairy Foundation has been so successful because both Foundations share the belief that local groups are best placed to know what their community needs; they just need some support to turn their ideas into reality.

“Working with Gardiner Dairy Foundation over the past 18 years, we’ve seen just how passionate and dedicated local not-for-profit groups are in meeting challenges and creating their own opportunities.

“This year the program is supporting some fantastic initiatives to rejuvenate and extend the capacity of community spaces so that locals have access to high quality facilities – including the addition of an all abilities access ramp at Scotts Creek Hall, gas heaters to warm the many elderly citizens who use the Girgarre Hall, and audio visual equipment to improve local film nights at Yanakie Recreation Reserve and Public Hall.

Some of the 26 grants awarded this round include:

• Gippsland Dairy Region – Leongatha Community Preschool received a $5,000 grant to replace Hassett St Kindergarten’s worn out and damaged outdoor blinds, which will improve the kindergarten’s learning environment.
• Northern Dairy Region – Cobram Community Cinema Inc received $5,000 to purchase kitchen appliances to provide facilities for community use of the space and hospitality training programs at the new cinema facility – now in its final stages of construction – after the town’s previous cinema was destroyed by fire in 2010.
•  South Western Dairy Region – South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve received $4,870 to rewire the Reserve’s buildings and toilet facilities as part of a larger scale project to rejuvenate the last remaining community asset, so that it is fit for regular events including markets and community gatherings.

Since the launch of the annual Working in Dairy Communities (WIDC) Small Grants program in 2002, Gardiner Dairy Foundation has invested more than $1.8 million in this program and has supported a total of 471 community projects.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.

Organisation	Project	Location	Awarded
GIPPSLAND DAIRY REGION
Anglican Trusts Corporation of the Diocese of Gippsland	Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn: Improve volunteer support and the upkeep of a community gathering space through the purchase of a ride on Lawnmower.	Trafalgar	$4,899
Boisdale-Briagolong Football Club Inc	Re-development of Boisdale Recreation Reserve’s Outdoor Entertainment Area: Strengthen community connectivity by enhancing the amenity of a venue where locals and visitors can gather for celebrations, recreation and social interactions.	Boisdale	$5,000
Foster Primary School	Phone System Upgrade: Ensure children’s well-being and improve the amenity of the Foster Primary School through the purchase and installation of a new phone system.	Foster	$5,000
Grants Only Group Inc	Better Communication Sounds Good: Strengthen community connectivity and engagement through the purchase of a new sound system.	Tarwin Lower	$4,838
Leongatha Community Pre School Centres Inc	All Weather Screens – Hassett St Kindergarten: Upgrade the amenity of the kindergarten’s learning environment by replacing worn out and damaged outdoor blinds.	Leongatha	$5,000
Manna Gum Community House Inc	Manna Gum Gathering Place -Stage 2: Strengthen educational and social outcomes through equipping a space that is safe and welcoming and can be used for relevant programs and activities.	Foster	$4,308
Venus Bay Tarwin Lower and District Mens Shed Inc	Tarwin District Auto Festival 2020: Increase community engagement and strengthen social outcomes for volunteers through the delivery of Children’s activities at an annual festival.	Tarwin Lower	$5,000
Yanakie Recreation Reserve and Public Hall Reserve	Yanakie Community Movies: Increase community engagement and the long-term sustainability of the Yanakie Public Hall.	Yanakie	$5,000
NORTHERN DAIRY REGION
Campaspe Shire Council	Grow and Share Together: Support community engagement and participation through the creation of a sensory garden.	Stanhope	$3,649
Cobram Community Cinema Inc	Cobram Community Cinema Kitchen Project: Improve the future employment prospects of young people and increase community engagement through the purchase of kitchen appliances for a community cinema.	Cobram	$5,000
Cobram District Children’s Services Inc	Eilleen Taylor – Outdoor & Imaginative Play Promotion: Improve educational and health outcomes for pre-school children by upgrading the Punt Rd Kindergarten’s outdoor play area.	Cobram	$5,000
Cobram District Children’s Services Inc	Punt Rd Kinder & Childcare – Outdoor Play Enhancement: Support children’s learning and development through the purchase of outdoor play equipment.	Cobram	$5,000
Gannawarra Shire Council	Supporting Gannawarra: Women Take a Well-Being Vacation!: Improve health and welfare of Women through the delivery of a Women’s workshop during Women’s Health Week.	Cohuna	$5,000
Girgarre Community Group Inc	Books Bringing People Together: Improve the organisational capacity and increase community participation through the purchase of furniture.	Girgarre	$1,240
Girgarre Development Group Inc – Girgarre Hall Committee	Warmer Winters: Strengthen community connectivity and engagement through installation of a heating system.	Girgarre	$5,000
Kindred Spirits Tatura Co-Operative Limited	Opera at the Dairy Farm: Strengthen local culture and increase community engagement through the presentation of Opera at the Dairy Farm.	Tatura	$3,850
Murrabit Promotions Committee Inc	Murrabit – Colour our Town!: Drive local tourism and strengthen community connection through the delivery of a community-based street beautification project.	Murrabit	$5,000
Rochester Secondary College	The Resilience Project: Increase the well-being of children and young people in the community through the delivery of a resilience program.	Rochester	$5,000
SOUTH WESTERN DAIRY REGION
Bostocks Creek Public Hall	Building a New Kitchen: Increase community engagement and financial sustainability by conducting maintenance on a public building creating a secure hospitable meeting space.	Bostocks Creek	$3,930
Coragulac & District Kindergarten Inc	Create an Indigenous Mural/Artwork ‘Our land/One Community’: Strengthen childhood education and community identity through the creation of a mural that will extend understanding of local culture.	Cororooke	$5,000
Friend’s of St Brigid’s Association	Installing a Ceiling in our Undercover Area: Build community connectivity and capacity through the replacement of an outdoor covering, creating a secure hospitable meeting space.	Crossley	$5,000
Purnim Mechanics Institute	Lighting up the Purnim Township: Contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Purnim township through the purchase and installation of a solar light system.	Purnim	$5,000
Scotts Creek Mechanics Institute and Free Library Reserve	Disabled Ramp and Toilet: Enhance community well-being and connectedness and improve the amenity of a community hall through the installation of an all ability access ramp and toilet.	Scotts Creek	$5,000
Simpson & District Community Centre Inc	Fun without the Sun: Strengthen community connectivity and engagement through the purchase and installation of seats and tables in a public park, creating a comfortable, year-round gathering space.	Simpson	$5,000
South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve	Reconnection to Community Project Stage 1 – Restoring Power: Increase community participation through the improvement of a Recreation Reserve.	South Purrumbete	$4,870
South Western District Restoration Group	Library Extension: Strengthen organisation capacity and social outcomes through equipping a space that is safe and welcoming and can be used for relevant programs and activities.	Cobden	$5,000

The Camperdown Community Garden was originally established in 2009. Through research and analysis conducted in 2017, it was identified that the Camperdown Community Garden had not been functioning in a way that allows this community asset to fulfill the space’s academically established benefits like “enhancing the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being necessary to build healthy and socially sustainable communities.” Considerable work in rebuilding the management and physical structure of the garden was required to address this. 

Much of the local rural area, in Victoria’s south-west, supports the dairy industry which has been impacted by the drought. As a result, the Camperdown & District Community House was seeing an increase in demand for emergency food relief and social support services. Camperdown is a strong community however, the impact of mental health issues, social isolation and drug and alcohol abuse has significant impact on social cohesion and health and wellbeing.

As part of a revamp, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s Working in Dairy Communities Small Grant allowed the Camperdown & District Community House to vastly improve the community garden space.

Four new above ground garden beds were designed, built and installed, with additional soil and compost to replenish depleted existing beds. A new accessible gravel path at rear of garden and around the new accessible garden beds was also added.

New garden guidelines and signage was also implemented, allowing individual gardeners to communicate and connect with the broader community. Using the boards, for example, to communicate what they are currently planting, or why they are planting what they are planting, when the produce will be ready to harvest, or other useful and educational information. 

New tools were also purchased that will be usable by people of diverse abilities.

“A friendly and inclusive community / stronger social fabric” has been identified as the primary outcome achieved from this project, with the following being the main reasons why this was identified as the primary outcome, and what we believe the most successful elements of the project to be.

This project was a tremendous success and a delight for everyone who participated in the process.

Grow Lightly Connect (GLC) was established in response to the lack of locally grown produce available to local consumers and, conversely, the lack of local outlets available to local growers.

The group has developed a strong presence in the local community since it set up in 2015, establishing a food hub and developing a network of local consumers and producers who share their vision of southern Gippsland being enabled to feed itself. But it was time to grow.

The GLC Growing Together project was focused on further increasing access to locally grown food, improving health outcomes in the community and contributing to a more robust local economy. With their $5,000 grant, they were able to fund a consultant to undertake market research on the feasibility and requirements of this expansion, and the development of a business plan. 

Extensive community consultation across Southern Gippsland highlighted places where there was interest in local produce but no ready access. GLC developed a bulk sales program for enterprises wanting to use local produce, which now regularly supplies 13 customers. Six are located on Phillip Island, which has traditionally had limited access to fresh, locally-grown food. 

The bespoke online ordering system that was developed for the bulk sales program now also handles the weekly orders for the vegie bags, which go out to around 35 families every week. These are packed and despatched from the new Grow Lightly Green Grocer shop in the main street of Korumburra, which is open six days a week.

GLC’s Chairman Gil Freeman says there’s still room for further growth, but the issue is finding the time to build the business. 

“There are now more than 100 small growers contributing to the social enterprise, in addition to the 15 larger-scale growers. The more extensive network of local outlets is also providing local growers with greater economic security.”

Bendigo, 11 July 2019: Twenty-six projects in Victoria’s three dairy regions will share in $120,326 in grant funding from the Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants program, run in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.

In its 17^th year, the Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants program offers up to $5,000 to help build Victorian dairy communities’ capacity to deal with local issues and enhance existing community infrastructure.

Gardiner Dairy Foundation Chief Executive, Clive Noble, said the grant funding aimed to strengthen dairy communities through supporting local initiatives.

“These grants help to create more resilient communities, enhance infrastructure and assets that all local people can benefit from,” Dr Noble said.

“Many of these projects leverage support from multiple sources to build community facilities where locals gather, like halls and clubrooms; support lifelong learning through education and training; and create community arts and health programs. Others look to contribute to creating a more vibrant, cultural community.”

“The Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants program continues to bring us these wonderfully creative ways of strengthening the various support mechanisms that many of us, at one time or another in our lives, will fall back on,” said FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton.

“I’m continually amazed by the exponential value and genuine long-term impact that is created from these grants funded by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation. It’s a program we are very proud of.”

A complete list of the projects supported is below. They include:

• Gippsland Dairy Region – Fish Creek Community Garden received $5,000 to commission and install a new artwork at the community garden, connecting it to the rest of the town and engaging local residents and tourists.
• Northern Dairy Region – Greater Shepparton City Council received $5,000 to build community resilience through delivery of mental health first aid training in the communities of Tatura and Tallygaroopna.
• South Western Dairy Region – South West Community Energy received $5,000 to strengthen environmental awareness and education outcomes by fitting out a renewable energy education van.

Since the launch of the annual program in 2002, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation has invested more than $1.7 million in this program and has supported a total of 445 community projects.

GIPPSLAND DAIRY REGION	NORTHERN DAIRY REGION	SOUTH-WESTERN DAIRY REGION
Bena Public Hall IncFish Creek Community GardenFoster Primary SchoolFriends of the Lyre Bird Forest Walk IncHeyfield Tennis ClubLoch Memorial Reserve IncMirboo North Playgroup and Toy Library IncNyora Cricket Club IncProm Coast Centres for Children IncState Coal Mine – Rescue Station Arts Inc	Cobram District Childrens Services IncCohuna and District Progress Association IncCorryong and District Memorial Public Hall IncGreater Shepparton City CouncilGreta Valley Landcare GroupMurrabit Men’s Shed IncRochester Community House IncStanhope & District Development Committee IncTatura Civic Halls Committee Inc	Anam Cara House Colac IncCamperdown & District Community HouseColac Otway Residents Action Group IncEmmanuel College IncPort Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail CommitteeSouth West Community EnergyThe Courthouse Camperdown Inc

It was hoped that with the installation of a shade sail, the area could be used for outdoor learning and as a lunch area for the whole school – around 70 students. With the school also the location of a vacation care program out of school terms, a local playgroup and the North East Roller Derby Group, added shade would be a welcome addition for a large section of the community.

A $4,000 Gardiner Dairy Foundation Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants Program grant funded the shade sail, with a local contractor employed to complete the work.

The shade sail created a new outdoor learning area allowing children to connect with natural elements and diversify their outdoor experience, and the use of outdoor areas for teaching improved student learning along with a range of indicators, cognitive and both physical and mental wellbeing.

The school children were also able to use the area to sit and enjoy their lunch, which was a considerable improvement over a rotunda that was previously being used at the front of the school on a busy and noisy road. The adjacent classroom also reported reduced glare through the windows in the summer months and made the room more pleasant to work in.

13 July 2018: The Gardiner Dairy Foundation and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced that 27 Victorian dairy community groups have been awarded funds, as part of the 2018 Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants Program.

The Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for projects that aim to strengthen Victorian dairy communities. This year, community groups across the Gippsland, Northern and South Western dairy regions are sharing in $118,226. 

Gardiner Dairy Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Clive Noble, said that the Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s partnership with FRRR plays an integral role in ensuring that Victorian dairy communities have the means to complete local projects that benefit local communities and the overall economy.

“Supporting the Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants Program has been a proud investment for the Gardiner Dairy Foundation for the past 16 years. The grants strengthen grass-roots community projects to deliver lasting benefits and to drive positive change and improvement to regional Victoria,” said Dr Noble.

FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that the small grants make a large impact to the people residing in rural and regional Australia.

“It can be very difficult for local groups in small communities to attract philanthropic support and so the Gardiner Dairy Foundation is making an important contribution to keeping these small communities vibrant and sustainable and, ultimately, strengthening Australia’s agricultural sector,” said Ms Egleton.

In many cases these kinds of small grants are catalytic. For example, the Foster Art, Music and Drama Association, received a $5,000 grant to go toward the purchase and installation of retractable seating for the local art centre, the only venue of its kind within 40 kilometres. Last week they secured further funding to enable its completion, and said that without this grant, the additional support would not have been possible.

A complete list of the projects supported is available on FRRR’s website, www.frrr.org.au but they include:

• Gippsland Dairy Region – Yarram Agricultural Society Inc received $5,000 to strengthen community engagement and participation at the annual Yarram Agricultural Show. Each year, the Show Committee programs a wide range of activities to appeal to a broad demographic reach, while ensuring that the event is affordable. This funding will be allocated to free entertainment including chainsaw carving, reptile encounters, petting zoo, face painting and balloon twisting.
• Northern Dairy Region: The Girgarre Community Group Inc received a $4,500 grant to assist with the running costs of their free monthly newsletter, Girgarre Gazette, which is distributed to about 450 households. This newsletter was established in 1984 and is prepared by volunteers, and it has become a necessity for local residents. The grant will offset running costs for the next 12 months, including paper, printing and delivery.
• South Western Dairy Region: The Crossley Men’s Shed received $4,500 to fireproof their precinct at Crossley. The funding will assist with repairs to a bore, pump shed and tank stand, and a damaged water tank will be replaced. The Men’s Shed members will supply the labour and the project will enhance the site’s fire ready capacity, as well as create opportunities to extend the scale and range of activities being delivered at the site.

The Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s investment of more than $100,000 is widely distributed across Victoria’s three principal dairying regions. Since the launch of the annual program in 2002, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation has invested more than $1.7 million in this program, having supported a total of 445 community projects.

Learn more about the projects funded in the Gippsland Dairy Region, South West Dairy Region and Northern Dairy Region.

Gippsland Dairy Region
Organisation	Project	Location	Grant
Fish Creek Community Garden	Wicking Bed and Composting Bay Construction Improve food security and the health and wellbeing of the community through an upgrade of infrastructure at the local community garden.	Fish Creek	$5,000
Foster Art, Music and Drama Association Inc	Retractable Seating Strengthen community engagement and participation in arts and cultural activities, through the purchase and installation of a fit for purpose seating bank for the local art centre.	Foster	$5,000
Foster Primary School	Undercover Outdoor Learning/Gathering Space Strengthen educational and social outcomes for students and the wider community by improving the amenity of an outdoor playground area at Foster Primary School.	Foster	$5,000
Manna Gum Community House Inc	Manna Gum Backyard Makeover Upgrade the rear grounds of the Manna Gum Community House, improving amenity of the facility and increasing its capacity to engage the community in meaningful programs and activities.	Foster	$4,540
Hallston Mechanics Institute Inc	Hallston Hall Community Signage Increase community participation and inclusion by installing a changeable sign at the Hall to advertise upcoming local events.	Hallston	$3,190
Upper Maffra Mechanics Institute Inc	Meeting Room Development Upgrade the amenity of the local hall to provide groups and organisations with a comfortable and fit for purpose meeting room, strengthening engagement and participation in community activities.	Newry/Upper Maffra	$5,000
The Noojee and District Historical Society Inc	Noojee Heritage Centre – Platform Sealing Project Strengthen community access and inclusion through an upgrade of the entrance pathways to a well-used community facility.	Noojee	$5,000
Manna Gum Community House Inc – Toora Community Action Team	Our Main Street Strengthen community cohesion and engagement through the development and delivery of a community-based street beautification project.	Toora	$4,200
Trafalgar Holden Museum Inc	Upgrade to Trafalgar Holden Museum’s Bathroom Facilities Strengthen community and economic development through an upgrade of toilet facilities at a local tourist attraction.	Trafalgar	$5,000
Wonthaggi Theatrical Group Inc	Booms and Beams from the Box Strengthen community engagement with arts and culture, through the addition of a sound and lighting box in a community owned performance space.	Wonthaggi	$5,000
Wonthaggi Woodcrafters Inc	Health and Safety Upgrade of Dust Extraction for the Woodturning Workshop Improve the health and well-being of community participants, by upgrading the air filtration system in the wood working workshop.	Wonthaggi	$3,000
Yarram Agricultural Society Inc	Yarram Agricultural Show Strengthen community engagement and participation by delivering an accessible event that celebrates and supports local community groups and industries.	Yarram	$5,000
Northern Dairy Region
Echuca and Moama and District Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc	Improvement of Cattle Yards for Safety of Exhibitors and the Cattle Strengthen community engagement and connectivity with the local agricultural industry through an upgrade of infrastructure at the showgrounds.	Echuca	$3,828
Girgarre Community Group Inc	Girgarre Gazette Strengthen community connectedness and engagement through the development and distribution of a monthly community newsletter, sharing locally relevant information which is otherwise difficult to access.	Girgarre	$4,500
Girgarre Primary School	Girgarre Primary School Play Ground Upgrade Enhance the educational experience and development of children at the Girgarre Primary School through an upgrade of playground equipment.	Girgarre	$5,000
Gannawarra Shire Council – The Murrabit Hall Committee	Projecting Murrabit into the Future Strengthen community connectedness and engagement through the upgrade of equipment at the local public hall, ensuring it provides a meeting place that meets contemporary needs and expectations.	Murrabit	$4,488
Rochester Community House Inc	Kitchen Kapers Enhance the organisational resilience and capacity of the Rochester Community House to respond to community needs through an upgrade of the kitchen facilities at the Town Hall.	Rochester	$5,000
Tatura Civic Halls Committee Inc	Lighting Upgrade to Victory Hall Strengthen community engagement and connectivity through a lighting upgrade at a local hall ensuring it is fit for a range of community activities.	Tatura	$2,500
Tragowel Progress Association Inc	Tragowel Hall Maintenance Strengthen community connectedness and engagement through an upgrade of facilities at the local hall ensuring it continues to function as a hub for community gatherings.	Tragowel	$4,400
South Western Dairy Region
Warrnambool and District Historical Vehicle Club	Club Room Kitchen and Toilet Block Fitout Strengthen community connections and well-being by converting a disused building into a fit for purpose meeting room with appropriate kitchen and toilet facilities.	Allansford	$5,000
Camperdown and District Community House Inc	Camperdown Community Garden Infrastructure Improvement, Accessibility and Engagement Increase community capacity and engagement with health and well-being and food security, through an upgrade of infrastructure at the community garden.	Camperdown	$2,927
Colac Otway Residents Action Group Inc	Learning and Supporting Development of our Youngest Families Enhancing early childhood development and learning and support for disadvantaged families, through the provision of additional resources for the local toy library.	Colac	$5,000
Friends of St Brigid’s Association Inc – Crossley Men’s Shed	Fireproofing our Precinct at Crossley Improve community preparedness, resilience and engagement through an upgrade of the available water supply at the St Brigid’s precinct.	Crossley	$4,500
Friends of St Brigid’s Association Inc – Crossley Men’s Shed	Fencing in our Shed Improve the security and safety of buildings and users by upgrading perimeter fencing at a well-used community precinct.	Crossley	$4,975
Kawarren Recreation Reserve	Kawarren Family Nature Play Space Strengthen community connectivity and enhance educational and social opportunities for children and their families through the construction of a nature play facility at the local recreation reserve.	Kawarren	$5,000
Nirranda and District Community Facility Inc	Grass Busters Improve volunteer support and the upkeep of community infrastructure through the purchase of appropriate gardening equipment.	Nirranda	$1,978
Woolsthorpe Primary School	Wood Fire Pizza Oven Strengthen the health and well-being of the school community through the construction of an outdoor cooking area that will enable an expansion of the successful kitchen garden program.	Woolsthorpe	$4,200

The uptake exceeded expectations – and the MHFA training was delivered to 133 individuals over the space of seven months.

The local people who attended MHFA training sessions represented a community-wide spread – from teachers to disability support workers; farming field officers to spouses of dairy farmers; general community members to industry relevant company individuals.

The ‘Are You Right Mate?’ event was held at the Lismore football clubrooms, with guest speaker Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico headlining the night. The aim of the night was to invite people, in particular men, from the local communities to come together in a social setting and look out for themselves and the communities they support. They could meet Dipper, have a chat and a free BBQ with their mates.

Over 120 local men attend the event and the informal environment was a great way to highlight that it is okay to not be okay, and how important it is to look out for one another.

At the conclusion of the Mental Health First Aid course, 100% of participants gave feedback that they now had confidence in their ability to recognise and respond to people who were experiencing mental health distress or crisis. Many participants also reported that they felt confident that they could discuss mental health with other people in their community.

Overall, the positive feedback from MHFA training participants indicated that more MHFA training, for both youth and adults, is wanted by the community. There were even 40 people on a waitlist to attend the training  This is a great sign that rural people are ready and willing to talk about mental health, and to support their mates.

The Gardiner Dairy Foundation and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced the 31 recipients that will share $113,000 from the 2016 Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants program. The Aussie Farmers Foundation, which supports grass-roots initiatives to improve the lives of rural Australians, has contributed an additional $12,000 toward the program, while a private donor contributed a further $1,000.

Working in Dairy Communities provides grants of up to $5,000 for projects that aim to strengthen small Victorian dairy communities, build their capacity to deal with local issues and enhance existing community infrastructure. The grant recipients, which come from all three Victorian dairy regions, received their cheques at a reception at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne earlier today.

Gardiner Dairy Foundation Chairman, Dr Bruce Kefford, said that supporting dairy communities through programs like this is critical to a sustainable dairy industry.

“The dairy industry makes an enormous contribution to the economic viability of regional Victoria and the Gardiner Dairy Foundation is proud to be investing in a vibrant dairy future. We have supported this program for 14 years and contributed more than $1.5 million to strengthen Victorian dairy communities in Gippsland, Northern Victoria and South West Victoria.”

The Aussie Farmers Foundation’s Executive Director, Julia Hunter, said the current dairy crisis had triggered a wave of generosity from Foundation supporters. “We’re very grateful to those Australians who’ve pitched in to support our dairy farmers. By adding our support to the Working in Dairy Communities program, we believe we will make a real difference in local dairy farming regions during these trying times,” Ms Hunter said.

FRRR Chairman, Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC, said small grants play an important role in rural and regional Australia and they are pleased to be supporting Victorian dairy communities, particularly in light of the current industry issues.

“Rural and regional communities face many challenges and experience many gaps in services and infrastructure. Small grants help to address local issues and priorities and enable community groups to implement local solutions to local problems.

“The Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s support of communities through this program ensures the locals have control over what their community needs,” Mr Sinclair said.

The Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s investment of $100,000 is widely and evenly distributed across Victoria’s three principle dairying regions. Since the launch of the annual program in 2002, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation has invested more than $1.5 million in this program, supporting 394 community projects. This year, the average community supported by a grant has 3,758 people, with the smallest community being Tatong in Northern Victoria, with just 150 people.

Details of the 2016 grant recipients and their projects are listed below. 

Organisation	Project	Location	Funding
GIPPSLAND DAIRY REGION – $35,660
Bass Valley Community Group Inc.	Op Shop Shed Replacement New storage shed to create a safer environment for volunteers and room for large items to support low income families.	Bass	$3,500
Bass Valley Music Festival Inc.	Serenade at Sunset Hire professional lighting to enhance cultural experiences and youth/tourism opportunities for the local area.	Grantville	$4,550
Briagolong Community House Inc.	Easy Learning through Technology Internet connection to expand training and skill development opportunities.	Briagolong	$1,327
Fish Creek Memorial Hall Inc.	Fish Creek Memorial Hall Restoration Refurbish the Memorial Hall to create a safer environment for volunteers and an all abilities accessible venue.	Fish Creek	$5,000
Heyfield Wetlands Committee of Management Inc.	Trees for the pond 2016 Tree and shrub planting to increase education opportunities for local students and improve environmental outcomes.	Heyfield	$4,483
Hillview Bunyip Aged Care Inc.	The Walls are Alive Installing a vertical garden wall in the aged care dementia ward, leading to increased wellbeing of residents and greater community connectivity.	Bunyip	$1,100
Newmerella Primary School*	From Chicken Coop to Veggie Garden Raised garden beds and a chicken pen for primary school students to safely participate in hands-on learning in horticulture, animal husbandry and business management.	Newmerella	$3,500
Venus Bay Tarwin Lower and District Men’s Shed Inc.	Cutting grass for safety Ride on mower to improve OHS for volunteers and establish an additional income stream.	Venus Bay & Tarwin Lower	$2,200
Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre @ Mitchell House Inc.	L2P – Steering to Safety A contribution towards a new vehicle, enabling ongoing access to driving instruction for local youth, and increased opportunity to access employment, education and training.	Wonthaggi	$5,000
Yarram Toy Library*	Welcome to the 21st Century New catalogue system and increased range of toys available at Toy Library to grow the current service that provides socially inclusive early childhood educational opportunities.	Yarram	$5,000
NORTHERN DAIRY REGION – $37,418
Cohuna Neighbourhood House Inc.	Cool Men Split system air conditioner in the Men’s Shed to enhance participants’ well-being and capacity to contribute to the community.	Cohuna	$1,749
Dederang Primary School*	Outdoor Kitchen An outdoor kitchen to provide learning opportunities and an environment for the school and wider community to meet and strengthen community wellbeing.	Dederang	$6,000
Greta Valley Landcare Group	Connecting the cockies – a new website for the Greta Valley Development of interactive website and newsletter template, facilitating better communications with members and the wider community.	Wangaratta	$2,160
Heartkids Vic Inc.*	Outreach Family Support Program Strengthening the Shepparton Echuca region outreach program in best practice family support and basic fundraising, improving capacity to support 10 families in the region with children suffering from heart disease.	Echuca & Shepparton	$4,000
Leitchville Community Sporting Complex	Storage Wars Building a new equipment and storage shed, improving volunteer OHS and enabling multi-purpose use of the community facility.	Leitchville	$900
Lions Club of Tatura Inc.	Community BBQ Constructing a BBQ to enhance local amenities, promoting tourism and strengthening community connectivity.	Tatura	$4,000
Moyhu & District Pre School	Lighting up our future stars Improvements to building efficiency by installing lighting, ceiling fans and acoustic roof tiles to create better learning conditions and reduce energy costs.	Moyhu	$3,679
Nathalia District Hospital	First Aid for Us First aid resources will enable locally delivered first aid training for community groups, improving community health outcomes and strengthening the capacity of the community to respond to emergencies.	Nathalia	$3,000
Oxley Primary School Council	Eating Places and Learning Spaces – A new outdoor area for Oxley Installing a shade sail to improve OHS and encourage learning through outdoor play, supporting educational outcomes.	Oxley	$4,000
Rochester & Elmore District Health Service	It’s all about Respect Improve young people’s sexual health and wellbeing through delivery of a series of educational forums and a social media campaign relating to sexual behaviour including teen pregnancies and safe sex; sexting, cyber bullying and social media; and positive body image.	Rochester	$4,000
Tatong Recreation Reserve Committee of Management Inc.	Tatong needs water! Replacing the water tank and pump to ensure access to running water at community reserve used for disaster recovery.	Tatong	$3,930
SOUTH WESTERN DAIRY REGION – $39,922
Camperdown & District Historical Society Inc.	Dairy Tales – A history of the Dairy Industry in the Camperdown District A permanent historical display showcasing the dairying industry in and around Camperdown to create a sense of place and strengthening local identity and tourism.	Camperdown	$1,900
South West Healthcare**	Dairy Farmer Mental Health Outreach program delivered in conjunction with other local mental health initiatives and dairy organisations to support dairy farmers and their families to have the skills and knowledge to access support and services for good Mental Health.	Camperdown	$4,635
Cobden and District Kindergarten Inc.*	Swinging into the future Installing play equipment suitable for all abilities, improving gross motor skills and enabling all students to reach the full potential of their early childhood development.	Cobden	$5,062
Cobden Playgroup Inc.	Little Green Thumbs Installing a tank and vegetable garden in the play area to support sustainability education, early childhood development and promoting community inclusion.	Cobden	$2,003
Deans Marsh Community Cottage Inc.	Running for the Marsh Supporting the inaugural fun run to promote active healthy lifestyles, improve community health and connectedness, and raise funds for local initiatives.	Deans Marsh	$2,500
Friends of St Brigid’s Assoc.	Keeping Crossley Hall Cool & Comfortable Refurbishing the hall to improve the sustainability, OHS and usability of the well-used, community owned and operated venue.	Koroit	$5,000
Kirkstall Recreation Committee	Cooking up Community Constructing a public BBQ area to enhance local amenities at the recreation reserve, promote tourism and strengthen community connectivity.	Kirkstall	$4,000
Simpson & District Community Centre Inc.*	Community Garden Stage 2 A new community garden to improve disabled access and strengthen social connections, while also improving fruit and vegetable consumption, food accessibility and reducing obesity.	Simpson	$7,000
Simpson & District Kindergarten Inc.	Simpson Community Three Year Kinder Project – Before the Bell Enabling the kindergarten program for three year olds to continue through until the end of 2016.	Simpson	$4,000
The Scout Assoc of Australia Vic Branch – 1st Noorat Scout Group	A breath of fresh air for Noorat Installing heating and cooling to improve amenities in the community hall, and increase attractiveness of venue to user groups.	Noorat	$3,822

* Projects marked with one asterisk also received additional funds of $2,000 each from the Aussie Farmers Foundation.

** Project marked with two asterisks also received additional funds of $1,000 from the Flew Family Foundation.