Community grant windfall from shire council

SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council is distributing a total of $186,650 in community grants in the first round of the 2011-12 program.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Tamlin looked out over a sea of happy faces at the presentation night last Wednesday, which was attended by representatives of most of the 38 successful community organisations.

“This is the most effective way for Council to support community projects. In the last eight years Council has allocated just shy of $2 million. It is a competitive process and some people have missed out, but I would encourage them to seek funding in the second round,” said Mr Tamlin.

Mr Tamlin said that this year there is a new funding category which allows for up to $10,000 for major projects. A few community groups were fortunate to be successful in this category. Among these was the Toora Recreation Reserve committee, which received $10,000 for a new mower.

Mr Tamlin’s words of encouragement were echoed by Cr Mohya Davies. Deputising for the mayor, Cr Warren Raabe, who had a prior engagement, she presided over the grants presentation evening in her first official role as deputy mayor since her election the week before.

“There are so many different wonderful programs being funded,” said Cr Davies. “I congratulate you all as representatives of groups that do a power of work around the shire that is very much appreciated. It is you who create an engaged and vibrant community.”

The councillors then took it in turns to congratulate the successful grant recipients and present them with a certificate in acknowledgement of their grants.

They include:

• Port Franklin Hall Committee – $5,000 for exterior painting of the hall;
• Prom Coast Arts Inc. – $4,000 for The Great Southern Portrait Prize;
• Sandy Point Community Group – $4,000 for Sandy Point Wind Festival;
• Sandy Point Community Group – $5,467 for a feasibility study for recreation facilities in Sandy Point;
• Stockyard Gallery – $3,000 for the ‘Life Aquatic’ exhibition and community event;
• Port Welshpool and District Bowling Club – $4,950 for refurbishment of male toilets and improvements to green edgings;
• Prom Country Challenge – $2,000 for this running event;
• Toora Recreation Reserve – $10,000 for purchase of a new mower;
• Welshpool and District Advisory Group – $3,500 for Prom Coast Summer Festival;
• Welshpool and District Advisory Group – $6,600 for Rural Transaction Centre renovations, upgrade and redevelopment;
• Corner Inlet Pony Club – $5,000 for club kitchen;
• Meeniyan Art Gallery – $3,536 for lighting upgrade to gallery;
• Meeniyan Golf Club – $4,500 for repair of flood damage to course;
• South Gippsland Game Fishing – $3,500 for fishing competition;
• Tarwin Lower Venus Bay Association Inc. – $4,950 for bike track development 2012;
• Tour de Tarwin organising committee – $3,000 for the Tour de Tarwin;
• Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club – $2,437 for the 50th anniversary celebration and reunion;
• Kongwak Public Hall – $2,050 for purchase of hall curtains;
• Loch Community Development Association – $6,000 for feasibility study for the Loch Lap;
• Loch Public Hall Committee – $5,315 to renew hall supper room floor and create stage storage area;
• Nyora Recreation Reserve Committee – $10,000 for pedestrian safety and car parking improvements at reserve;
• Poowong Historical Group – $2,000 for Classic Cars and ‘Kenny;’
• Poowong Section 86 Committee of Management – $9,000 to resurface and reline Poowong basketball court;
• Strzelecki Hall – $5,000 to remove existing weatherboards on hall and replace with Colorbond;
• Korumburra Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club Inc. – $5,000 for water operated pool hoist;
• Korumburra and District Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc. – $2,750 for drainage to protect assets and facilitate Dairy Expo at Korumburra Showgrounds;
• Lions Club of Korumburra – $4,000 for Lions Club Convention 2012 at Korumburra;
• Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak Cricket Club – $5,000 for installation of practice nets;
• South Gippsland Buskers Festival – $4,000 for Korumburra Buskers Festival;
• Leongatha Bowls Club – $7,728 for protective shelter and walkway access;
• Lyrebird Arts Council – $3,000 for Mossvale Music Festival;
• Mardan Hall Committee – $1,925 for hall public address system;
• Woorayl Golf Club – $5,000 for club grounds water conservation program;
• Leongatha Arts and Crafts Society – $1,500 for 40th anniversary Artist’s Book Competition;
• Leongatha Combined Churches – $2,000 for Carols in the Drome;
• Leongatha and District Historical Society – $6,550 for heating project;
• Leongatha Secondary College Centenary Committee – $4,000 for centenary celebration;
• Mardan Hall Committee – $3,000 for centenary celebration;
• Mirboo North Arty Gras Subcommittee – $4,000 for Arty Gras – Diversely Different;
• Mirboo North Cricket Club – $5,000 for turf wicket development;
• Walter J. Tuck Recreation Reserve – $7,392 for Reserve Master Development Plan.

Cr Davies reminded the grant recipients to follow due process on the project grants. “The acquittal process is very important,” she said, adding that there would be a second round of community grants. Applications close February 29, and the successful applicants will be announced at the end of May, with a presentation ceremony in early June.

Altogether, Council will distribute $346,000 in community grants in the course of the 2011-2012 financial year. With $186,650 already distributed, there is $159,350 up for grabs in Round Two.

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