Projects to benefit from Community Resilience Grants

Projects to benefit from Community Resilience Grants

Published on 14 July 2020

Fifteen local projects, ranging from garden upgrades to health measures, will benefit from funding thanks to Round 3 of the Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program.

Funded by the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Programme – Extension, schools, community groups and organisations will share in $57,704 of funding.

“This popular initiative has again been well received by the community, with Council receiving 45 applications seeking a combined total of $258,795 of support,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“Projects that successfully received funding will endeavour to keep the community connected, which is more important than ever during these unique times.”

One third of the projects that will receive funding include the development or upgrade of community gardens – including at Cohuna Consolidated School, which received support for the establishment of herb and vegetable gardens within the school’s grounds.

“At a time where good news is scarce, I am very much looking forward to sharing these positive news with students, staff and parents. It will give us a positive project to focus on during this tumultuous year,” Cohuna Consolidated School acting principal, Valerie Lobry said.

Health promotion was another theme of successful applicants, with support provided for Northern District Community Health’s Women in the Warra campaign, Quambatook Community Resource Centre’s aim of providing hand sanitiser stations for community events across the Gannawarra and the Koondrook Fire Brigade’s efforts to develop community fire danger advice signage.

“Our Brigade members are looking forward to having the sign installed, as it will be of great benefit to our Brigade to be able to get fire danger ratings and other information out to the community,” Koondrook Fire Brigade Captain, John Schulze said.

Funding will also be provided for infrastructure improvements, including the fitting out of the Lions Club of Cohuna barbecue trailer, the Cohuna and District Leos’ efforts to construct a shelter over the Cohuna Retirement Village shelter area and Vivid’s works to place shade sails over their Kerang venue’s garden beds.

“Council thanks all community groups and organisations that applied for funding at this time, and looks forward to seeing these projects come to fruition this year,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“Council is also committed to working the community groups and organisations that were unsuccessful in obtaining funding to provide suggested alternative funding opportunities where appropriate or identify other assistance which may be required to progress projects.”

Projects that will be supported by Round 3 of the Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program are:

Cohuna Consolidated School (The Vege Patch) Cohuna and District Leos (Cohuna Retirement Village shelter over recreation area) Lions Club of Cohuna (fitting out the new Lions barbecue shelter) Kerang and District Community Centre (Food For Life / iPad for sign-in) Kerang District Health (Wellbeing Garden) U3A Kerang and District (purchase and installation of Smart TV) Koondrook Fire Brigade (Community fire danger advice signage) Lake Charm Primary School (Vegetable garden watering system and fencing) Lakes Community Development Group (Bringing The Lakes Community Together Through The Arts Stage 2) Leitchville Progress Association (Community gardens upgrade) Macorna Recreation Reserve Committee (Purchase of a 23,000-litre water tank for community use) Murrabit Advancement Association (Murrabit Country Market - Help Get Our Community Up and Running Post COVID-19) Murray Human Services (The Right Coverage for Vivid Living) Northern District Community Health (Women in the Warra health promotion campaign) Quambatook Community Resource Centre (Hands Out Gannawarra)

ABOVE: Murrabit Advancement Association's Murrabit Country Market - Help Get Our Community Up and Running Post COVID-19 initiative is one of 15 projects to receive funding thanks to Round 3 of the Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program.