More than $640,000 in bushfire recovery funding distributed

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Media releases: 16 March 2021

FRRR has awarded $642,481 in grants for 36 projects that will help seed and strengthen the recovery of regions impacted by the Black Summer bushfires, through its Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.

Bushfire recovery grants awarded

The bushfire recovery stream provides grants up to $25,000 for projects that promote community healing and the renewal of remote, rural, and regional communities following the 2019/2020 bushfires.

Grants range from $2,953 to help the New South Wales’ Burragate community prepare for future disasters, through to a $25,000 grant to increase access to mental health support for community members across five bushfire impacted communities in South Australia.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that over the past year rural people have demonstrated the true meaning of resilience and determination and continued to find ways of addressing the needs of their communities.

“Recovery in bushfire-affected regions has been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions, but local organisations are still seeking to do what they can to meet the local priorities in their community.

“This round we saw an increase in requests to fund projects that will provide access to services and activities as impacted communities begin to resume normal activities and reconnect one year on from the fires. This includes Tenterfield in NSW, where a series of creative workshops will support the social and mental health of locals.

“Improving and repairing infrastructure is also an important part of the recovery process for many of these communities. These meeting places, like Katanning’s central shopping precinct in Western Australia and the local Hall in Charleston, South Australia, played a vital role during the bushfires, providing the community with a safe place to gather during the fires, or as a space to gather in order to reconnect and seek support after the disaster,” Ms Egleton explained.

Some of the 36 projects awarded include:

  • Bermagui Preschool Co-operative Society Limited, NSW – The Cobargo/Bermagui Growing-Growers Project 2021 with Cost Georgiadis & Paul West – $25,000 – Increase social connectedness and local food security, through delivery of collaborative preschool garden activities and Costa Georgiadis events.
  • Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Community Radio Association Inc, QLD – Stanthorpe Community Radio Transmission Equipment – $9,773 – Increase communication of local news, events and emergency information, by supporting the establishment of a community radio station.
  • Penneshaw Progress Association Inc, SA – Penneshaw Town Hall Evacuation Centre – Catering Facilities – $25,000 – Increase preparedness for future disaster events by upgrading the kitchen at the Penneshaw Town Hall.
  • Corryong Neighbourhood House Inc, VIC – Giving Youth a Voice – $25,000 – Increase youth representation in community recovery and development, through employment of youth workers to support youth leadership in the Upper Murray.
  • Shire of Katanning, WA – Vibrant Katanning – $22,000 – Support economic and social recovery, through upgrading Katanning’s central shopping precinct.

The SRC program is collaboratively-funded and offers two streams of funding. In addition to the $642,481 in bushfire recovery funding, $420,003 in grants has been awarded via the program’s Small & Vital grants stream.

The SRC program is collaboratively supported by a number of generous donors, which are listed on FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/strengthening-rural-communities/.

The next round of SRC applications is currently being assessed and will be announced June 2021. The current round is accepting applications until 25 May 2021, with funds to be awarded in December

Visit here for more information on FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities program and other grant programs to support communities before, during, and after a natural disaster or drought, and build communities’ climate resilience.

To support grants like this through FRRR, make a tax-deductible donation at frrr.org.au/giving/.

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

Jump to: NSW | QLD | SA | VIC | WA

OrganisationProjectLocationGrant
NEW SOUTH WALES
Bega Valley Meals on Wheels Co-operative LtdBega Valley Mobile Community Freezer
Increase food security, including for future disasters, through the purchase of a mobile freezer.
Bega$16,000
Bermagui Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism IncKeeping Bermagui Connected & Safe
Boost communication capacity during and before natural disaster disasters through the purchase of wireless computer and printer equipment, and re-establishing signage for the 17km Heritage Trail.
Bermagui$15,373
Bermagui Pre School Co-operative Society LimitedThe Cobargo/Bermagui Growing-Growers Project 2021 with Costa Georgiadis & Paul West
Increase social connectedness and local food security in fire-affected community, through delivery of collaborative preschool garden activities and Costa Georgiadis events.
Bermagui$25,000
Burragate Rural Fire ServiceOffice Equipment for the Burragate Fire Shed
Boost the community's ability to prepare for future disasters by purchasing computer and office supplies to support Burragate Rural Fire Service.
Burragate$2,953
Delegate Progress Association Inc.Recovery BBQ
Support community connection and recovery by installing an electric barbeque at Memorial Park to host community barbeques and debrief events for the bushfire-affected community.
Delegate$15,000
Eden Mountain Bike Club IncEden Community Access Centre IncorporatedEden Mountain Bike Trails
Design a community-driven mountain bike trail in the Eden region to support economic recovery, through development of Environmental Impact Study and Concept Plans.
Eden$25,000
Eungai Hall Section 355 Committee of ManagemenNambucca Valley CouncilKitchen Upgrade for Community Use and Resilience
Expand the use of the Community Hall by upgrading the kitchen facilities to allow for more community events and activities to occur.
Eungai Creek$12,441
Ewingar TheatricksClarence Valley CouncilTheatrical Production
Support the community's recovery by bringing people together to deliver a locally-set play.
Ewingar$14,460
Glen Innes Severn CouncilWytaliba Rises Sustainable Community Music Events
Encourage people to come together and support recovery by providing equipment for music events.
Die Hard Wytaliba$9,267
Glenrac IncorporatedProviding Homes for our Hollow Nesting Species
Encourage local species back to their habitat following the bushfires, through the creation of nesting boxes at facilitated workshops.
Glen Innes$19,756
Granite Borders Landcare Committee IncorporatedReconnecting Communities - Workshops Focusing on Health and Wellbeing for Fire-Affected Villages in the Tenterfield LGA
Reduce social isolation and support community recovery, through the delivery of workshops in remote towns across the Tenterfield Shire.
Tenterfield$25,000
Lawrence Historical Society IncorporatedWorkshop for Sharing, Supporting and Skills
Support community recovery and increase volunteer engagement at Lawrence Historical Society by building a new workshop shed.
Lawrence$15,820
Make a Difference PMQ IncorporatedM.A.D. Mobile Food Van
Increase capacity to support outreach to homeless and vulnerable populations in fire-affected communities, through fitout of a mobile food van and construction of an event stage.
Port Macquarie$25,000
Make It Tenterfield IncorporatedCreativity Abound Workshops
Support social and mental health recovery through the delivery of creative and supportive community-based workshops.
Tenterfield$24,000
Marlee Rural Fire BrigadeMarlee Safer Place Upgrade
Increase preparedness for future disasters, through upgrade to central meeting space to create a Neighbourhood Safer Place for the community.
Marlee$15,205
Mingoola Hall Management CommitteeBringing Mingoola Community Together to Celebrate our Uniquely Beautiful Environment
Strengthen community connection and recovery in Mingoola via the delivery of the inaugural Mingoola Big River Picnic event.
Mingoola$10,000
Monaro Early Intervention Service IncorporatedWheelchair Access to Sensory Garden
Improved access to sensory garden to support wellbeing of children affected by fires, through construction of a ramp at early intervention service.
Cooma$19,000
Nowendoc Ladies AuxileryKeep us Fit and Healthy
Increase health, wellbeing and individual recovery, through delivery of weekly exercise sessions for ageing community members in Nowendoc.
Nowendoc$12,000
Nowendoc Memorial Hall Land ManagerSave us from Frosty Toes and Nose!
Increase comfort and amenity at the Nowendoc Memorial Hall to support community recovery, through the installation of air conditioning.
Nowendoc$25,000
Nymboida P&C AssociationEstablish a Nymboida Community Kitchen by Upgrading the Nymboida P&C Kitchen Facilities to Complement the Nymboida PS Community Vegetable Garden
Increase capacity to cater for school and community recovery and preparedness activities, through the upgrade of the school kitchen/canteen area at Nymboida School.
Nymboida$25,000
Rotary Club of GuyraGuyra Garden ClubThe Guyra Spring Flower Festival 2021 incorporating a Memorial Avenue and a Mandala Garden
Deliver the inaugural annual 'Guyra Spring Flower Festival' in 2021 and plant a Memorial Avenue and Mandala Garden to honour service people.
Guyra$10,000
Wilsons Creek Community Hall IncPrepare, Respond and Recover - Wilsons Creek, Huonbrook, & Wanganui
Increase preparedness for future disasters through resourcing and upgrading the local hall as a local evacuation centre.
Wilsons Creek$23,078
Wingham Showground Land ManagerAcknowledging our Heritage, Respecting our Future
Strengthen sense of place and connectedness during recovery by erecting four billboards displaying historically significant photographs of the Showgrounds.
Wingham$5,920
QUEENSLAND
Atherton Men's Shed IncorporatedEnlarging Atherton Men's Shed Space
Support local men, and projects benefiting the wider community, through expansion of Atherton Men's Shed workspace.
Atherton$9,000
Charters Towers Rural Fire BrigadeInteractive Screen for Training
Increased rural fire brigade's ability to deliver training and presentations, through the purchase of an interactive screen.
Charters Towers$6,435
Creative Recovery NetworkDisaster Ready Regions - CQRASN 'Shine Bright' Creative Recovery Training
Boost community's ability to recover from disasters through creative recovery training for practitioners and community leaders.
Bundaberg$20,000
Friends of Amamoor IncAmamoor Rest Room Upgrade
Increase capacity to deliver community events and support local recovery via tourism, through upgrade of public toilets.
Amamoor$10,000
Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Community Radio Association IncStanthorpe Community Radio Transmission Equipment
Increase communication of local news, events and emergency information, by supporting the establishment of a community radio station.
Stanthorpe$9,773
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation Flinders FoundationMental Health First Aid Training - Kangaroo Island & Adelaide Hills
Increase access to support for community members through the delivery of Mental Health First Aid Training to five bushfire impacted communities.
Lobethal$25,000
Charleston Community Centre IncEstablishing a Charleston Community Hub
Increase use and amenity at the Charleston Hall to support recovery, through installation of air conditioning and upgrade to power supply.
Charleston$25,000
Penneshaw Progress Association IncPenneshaw Town Hall Evacuation Centre Catering Facilities
Increase preparedness for future disaster events by upgrading the kitchen at the Penneshaw Town Hall.
Penneshaw$25,000
Rotary Club of Onkaparinga IncOnkaparinga Rotary Fencing Project
Enable volunteers to support community recovery through the purchase of tools, materials, and equipment.
Lobethal$25,000
VICTORIA
Corryong and District Community Youthclub IncRefurbishment of the Corryong Youth Hall to Better Support the Community
Increase amenity and security at Corryong community hall to support community recovery activities, through upgrade to meeting area and storage space.
Corryong - Upper Murray$25,000
Corryong Neighbourhood House IncGiving Youth a Voice
Increase youth representation in community recovery and development, through employment of youth workers to support youth leadership in the Upper Murray.
Corryong$25,000
Upper Murray Innovation FoundationPower to the People
Boost and strengthen economic recovery and promote climate friendly travel, through installation of Electric Vehicle charger at Walwa.
Walwa$25,000
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Shire of KatanningVibrant Katanning
Support economic and social recovery, through upgrading Katanning's central shopping precinct.
Katanning$22,000