Shire council grants get community projects going

A WIDE cross-section of the South Gippsland community filled Council Chambers in Leongatha last Wednesday night for the 2013/2014 Community Grants Round Two Presentation. It was a cold, wet and windy night, but the grant announcements, accompanied by a tasty supper, improved the mood of the crowd – many of whom had to battle fog and rain to get there – no end.

Mayor Jim Fawcett commented that although there were many familiar faces, it was good to see lots of new faces, as it meant that the grants were going to a range of community groups, not just the same old causes headed by practised submission-writers.

He said that the shire was handing out a total of around $300,000 in two rounds of grants this year. This money will be combined with community contributions totalling at least that figure, allowing the completion of many hundreds of thousands of dollars of projects in communities across South Gippsland.

Cr Fawcett expressed thanks to the representatives of all the hard-working community groups, saying: “Your enthusiasm and smiles are reward enough for us. We appreciate all you do in our community.”

He thanked his fellow councillors and the shire officers, particularly grants officer Penni Ellicott, for their efforts in organising the community grants program, and advised that the first round of the 2014/15 Community Grants Program is now open, closing August 30.

The successful projects for 2013/14 Round Two are as follows:

• Fish Creek Community Development Group – $3200 for the 2014 Fish Creek Tea Cosy Festival;
• Foster Amateur Music & Drama Association Inc. (FAMDA) – $3900 for stage curtains for the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre;
• Foster & District Community House & Learning Centres – $4000 for redevelopment;
• Foster Bowls Club Inc. – $7000 for supply and installation of solar panels;
• Foster Tennis Club Inc. – $1000 for tree removal and pruning of dangerously overgrown trees that are threatening the club pavilion/shelter;
• Rotary Club of Foster – $5000 for construction of a rotunda at Foster Station Park;
• Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Port Welshpool Flotilla – $2500 for the inaugural Port Welshpool Coast Guard ‘Rockin’ the Boat’ Festival on November 1, 2014;
• Port Welshpool & District Maritime Museum – $1000 towards the 100 years celebration for the Janet Iles on October 11, 2014;
• Toora Community Hall & Library Inc. – $3000 for supply and installation of solar panels;
• Welshpool & District Advisory Group – $2500 for IT upgrade;
• Sandy Point Community Group – $1300 for purchase of a defibrillator for the new community centre;
• South Gippsland Landcare Network – $5000 for improving visitor experience and the environment at Turtons Creek;
• Meeniyan & District Sports Stadium – $2700 for resurfacing of the stadium floor;
• Meeniyan & District Volleyball Club – $4000 for purchase of volleyball poles, padding, nets and referee stands;
• Meeniyan Bowling Club – $5000 for installation of solar panels;
• Meeniyan Tourism & Traders Association – $2000 for ‘Meeniyan on Fire’ street festival;
• Tarwin Valley Campdraft Club – $5000 for sand for the campdraft arena at Dumbalk Recreation Reserve;
• Korumburra Kindergarten Inc. in partnership with Prom Coast Centre for Children – $10,000 for professional training and development for Boards of Management Partnership Project;
• South Gippsland Concert Band – $3000 to replace/refurbish existing timpani drums and purchase two additional drums to complete the set;
• Ballarat YMCA – $10,000 to revitalise St Andrew’s Child Care Centre at Mirboo North;
• Leongatha Community Pre-School Centres Inc. – $1500 to upgrade the playground at Hassett Street Kindergarten;
• Mirboo North Playgroup & Toy Library – $1000 for the purchase and installation of a fairytale slide;
• Yooralla – $1500 for the Yooralla Yolks community garden and chicken house in Leongatha;
• Leongatha & District Netball Association Inc. 50 Year Committee – $2500 for the 50 years celebration of the association;
• Leongatha Bowls Club – $1500 for construction of a pathway and access ramp;
• Leongatha Rose Show Committee – $2000 for the Leongatha Rose Spectacular;
• Leongatha Tennis Club Inc. – $5000 for net post replacement and minor equipment refurbishment works;
• Mardan Tennis club Inc. – $2300 to upgrade the kitchen and interior walls of the tennis clubrooms and remove a dangerous cypress tree;
• South Gippsland Bass Swimming Club – $1700 for purchase of two laptops, a printer and software for streamlining of administration;
• Tarwin Lower Football Netball Club – $3500 for replacement of a tractor for mowing of turf;
• Koonwarra Leongatha RSL Cricket Club – $5000 for purchase of a lawn mower;
• Korumburra Botanic Park – $893 for purchase of a chainsaw;
• Korumburra Motorcycle Club Inc – $5000 for purchase of a John Deere tractor;
• Korumburra Recreational Reserve S86 Committee – $3000 for purchase of garage to store machinery and equipment;
• Loch Bowling Club – $1900 for a concrete pedestrian access ramp to the clubrooms;
• Loch Community Development Association Inc. – $5000 for purchase of a marquee for community events;
• Loch Memorial Reserve inc. – $5600 for Loch Memorial Reserve Inc. master plan development
• Poowong Amateur Basketball Association – $5400 for Poowong & District Sports Centre Feasibility Study;
• Poowong Recreation Reserve Committee – $1500 for purchase and installation of new park furniture;
• South Gippsland Youth Theatre – $3000 for end of year show 2014.

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