Media releases: 20 November 2020
30 communities share in small grants
Schools, sports clubs and a rural fire brigade are among the 30 not-for-profit organisations in rural and regional cotton-growing communities to receive a $5,000 boost from the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program.
This year marks the seventh round of the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program, which the Crop Science division of Bayer delivers in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). This year’s program takes the total investment into cotton communities to more than one million dollars.
Local cotton growers nominated each of the not-for-profits that are receiving funds, which will help strengthen community resilience and positively impact the wellbeing of cotton-growing communities.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said a consistent theme across nominations this year was a strong desire to boost morale and maintain community spirit in the face of drought.
“Local cotton-growing communities, already dealing with the stresses of sustained drought, have told us of the additional strain caused by COVID-19 restrictions. For these groups, normal fundraising activities have been turned on their head with local businesses, already struggling to survive, unable to lend their support to these community organisations,” Ms Egleton said.
“It’s wonderful to have partners like Bayer to be able to help to alleviate some of their fundraising challenges as they work hard to keep their communities connected and address critical community needs.
“There are so many not-for-profit groups and local charities doing wonderful things to make cotton-growing communities great places to live and work. This year we’ve seen many groups seeking support to develop and build organisational and community resilience. Their determination to see their communities thrive, despite the challenges they face, is inspiring,” Ms Egleton said.
Bayer Crop Science Head of Customer Marketing for Australia and New Zealand Tony May congratulated the winners and said the funding will assist in bringing people together again after being disconnected by COVID-19 restrictions.
“Many of the projects being funded will ensure cotton-growing communities can interact and connect with one another safely during the pandemic,” Mr May said.
“The grants will help build community gardens, upgrade facilities for digital learning and enhance outdoor areas to foster connections.”
Gogeldrie Rural Fire Brigade in central north Riverina NSW, was a recipient of one of the 30 Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities grants. The brigade plan to use the grant to invest in suitable gym equipment to ensure the safety of its users. Currently gym users are improvising, including dragging around spare tyres tied on with rope.
On hearing they had been successful, Gogeldrie Fire Brigade Captain David Pike said it was fantastic news and would make a big difference to their small community.
“Providing appropriate gym equipment will be a nice reward for our volunteer fire fighters and motivate our farmers to come together and put their health and wellbeing first, more often,” Captain Pike said.
The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Jump to : NSW Communities | QLD Communities
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | |||
| Darling River Food & Fibre (Bourke) | |||
| Bourke & District Children’s Services | Enhance community identity and connection through the installation of a culturally relevant outdoor space. | Bourke | $5,000 |
| Gwydir Valley | |||
| Moree & District Historical Society | Develop organisational resilience and capacity through the installation of solar panels. | Moree | $5,000 |
| St Philomenas Catholic School Moree P & F | Support school engagement and enhance learning outcomes through the construction of an outdoor classroom. | Moree | $5,000 |
| Lower Namoi | |||
| Wee Waa Branch Country Women’s Association of NSW | Increase community inclusion through construction of a safety ramp to support access to the CWA hall. | Wee Waa | $5,000 |
| Wee Waa Rotary Club Inc | Support organisational capacity through the purchase of a portable coolroom. | Wee Waa | $5,000 |
| Macquarie | |||
| Trangie Country Women’s Association – Country Women’s Association of NSW | Increase community inclusion through the installation of safety railing to a newly installed ramp at the CWA hall. | Trangie | $5,000 |
| Warren Central School | Support life long learning through the establishment of a kitchen garden program. | Warren | $5,000 |
| Warren Youth Support Group Incorporated | Facilitate positive engagement and support of young people through the installation of a permanent gazebo and outdoor furniture. | Warren | $5,000 |
| Mungindi Water Users | |||
| Mungindi Junior Rugby League Club Inc | Foster social wellbeing and connectivity through a kitchen upgrade. | Mungindi | $5,000 |
| Southern Valleys | |||
| Coleambally Central School P&C Association | Enhance educational opportunities through the construction of a covered area linking classrooms and providing a safe all-weather play area. | Coleambally | $5,000 |
| Gogeldrie Rural Fire Brigade | Support individual and community health and wellbeing through the purchase of gym equipment. | Gogeldrie | $5,000 |
| Griffith Public School Parents and Citizens Association | Increase educational opportunities through the purchase of readers for junior classrooms. | Griffith | $5,000 |
| Hillston Billylids Inc | Enhance educational opportunities and social skill development through the purchase of digital learning resources and upgrade to play area. | Hillston | $5,000 |
| Country Education Foundation of Coleambally-Darlington Point Incorporated (CEFCPD) | Support lifelong learning, education and training through the support of a grants program that enables young people to complete post secondary education. | Coleambally | $5,000 |
| Murrumbidgee Shire Council | Foster community health and wellbeing through fencing of a community garden. | Coleambally | $5,000 |
| Upper Namoi | |||
| Carroll Community Bus Incorporated | Foster community connectivity and resilience through repairs to the community bus. | Carroll | $5,000 |
| Ooranga Family Mobile Resource Unit Assoc Inc | Provide access to diverse learning environments through the replacement of the existing kitchen. | Gunnedah | $5,000 |
| Spring Ridge Public School Parents and Citizens Association | Enable participation in educational opportunities through support of an annual student trip to Canberra. | Spring Ridge | $5,000 |
| QUEENSLAND | |||
| Central Highlands | |||
| Rolleston Cricket Club Inc | Build community resilience through the purchase of a defibrillator and ice making machine. | Rolleston | $5,000 |
| Darling Downs | |||
| 11th Light Horse Darling Downs Troop Inc. | Support the preservation of local history by upgrading facilities that house historical memorabilia. | Highfields | $5,000 |
| Cecil Plains History Group | Support organisational resilience and the promotion of local history through the installation of a rainwater tank and purchase of display stands. | Cecil Plains | $5,000 |
| Friends of Jondaryan Woolshed Inc | Enhance the preservation and promotion of local history through exhibit fencing to protect historical artifacts. | Jondaryan | $5,000 |
| Rotary Club of Dalby Inc | Increase organisational capacity through upgrade of existing catering trailer. | Dalby | $5,000 |
| Wheatlands Primary P&C Assoc | Enhance student learning opportunities and support community connection, through the provision of a protected outdoor space. | Wheatlands | $5,000 |
| Dawson Valley | |||
| Theodore Bowls Club Incorporated | Develop organisational resilience and capacity through the provision of a ride on mower and outdoor vac. | Theodore | $5,000 |
| Dirranbandi | |||
| Dirranbandi Arts Council Incorporated | Increase volunteer comfort and safety through the installation of meeting room air conditioning and security cameras to community spaces. | Dirranbandi | $5,000 |
| Macintyre Valley | |||
| Lundavra Primary P&C Association | Support student wellbeing and community resilience, through the purchase of a water tank to maintain school grounds. | Lundavra | $5,000 |
| Macintyre Ag Alliance Inc. | Support environmental outcomes through the purchasing of weed spraying equipment. | Goondiwindi | $5,000 |
| St George | |||
| St George Tourism and Museum Association Inc. | Support community resillience and raise community morale through restoration of a historical building. | St George | $5,000 |
| Northern Australia (North of Latitude 21.15 degrees South) | |||
| Cowboys Charity Limited | Support learning opportunities for Indigenous students through fit out of boarding room accomodation. | Townsville | $5,000 |
