Bendigo, 8 January 2019: Thirty-six community projects that will assist the continued recovery of communities impacted by the Black Saturday Bushfires will receive funding totalling $555,963. The groups are the latest recipients of the Grants for Resilience and Wellness (GR&W) and Community Group Futures (CGF) programs.
Funding is made possible by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF) which the general public generously contributed to in the immediate aftermath of the fires.
Grants for Resilience and Wellness (GR&W) will support 27 community groups, who will share $425,082, to implement their local projects. To date, the GR&W program has funded 200 projects to a total value of $2,603,788.80.
The GR&W program assists community strengthening and resilience building projects. Some communities will use their GR&W funding to support their Black Saturday 10th Anniversary commemorative activities in February 2019 with concerts planned for Arthurs Creek and Balook, commemorative service and community dinners in Boolarra and Traralgon South, Jeeralang North will also hold an event, while a community arts project and exhibition will take place in the Kinglake Ranges.
The Community Group Futures (CGF) program will fund $130,881 across nine community groups. To date, CGF has funded 43 projects, valued at $513,656.
The CGF program supports not-for-profit organisations think beyond day-to-day operations and look ahead to ensure they can meet on-going community needs. Solar energy projects again proved a powerful drawcard as community groups look to self-sufficiency and reduce overhead costs. The Royal Historical Society of Victoria meanwhile is looking to digitise their records given the bushfire-prone environment.
“As we approach 2019 and the ten-year anniversary of Black Saturday, it’s heartening to see these communities continuing to work together to recover. Community needs continue to evolve and local leaders – many of whom have been involved since 2009 – continue to find ways to support the community and bolster their resilience in the years to come,” said FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton.
“While it’s nearly a decade since this horrific event, it’s important that these communities take the time to reflect on the impact the fires had and, in many cases, continues to have,” Ms Egleton continued.
“As in the aftermath of the fires, it’s the communities themselves who know how to serve their people best, and we are pleased to be able to support them in achieving this.”
| GR&W – Round 14 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant |
| Alexandra Secondary College | MY ( Murrindindi Youth ) Reflective Garden Increase connection to place and space for reflection at Alexandra Secondary College through establishment of a reflective garden. | Alexandra | $16,014 |
| Arthurs Creek/ Strathewen Brigade Country Fire Authority | Fire Safety Community Messages for 2019 Creation of two animated fire safety adverts to consolidate the learnings from Fire Education Sessions delivered at Strathewen Primary School. | Strathewen | $20,000 |
| Arthurs Creek/ Strathewen Brigade
Country Fire Authority 10th Anniversary Commemorative Event | Black Saturday 10-year memorial Eric Bogle Concert. Increase opportunity for the Strathewen community to connect and support each other while acknowledging the 10th anniversary of the bushfire disaster through delivery of a community concert. | Arthurs Creek | $3,455 |
| Balook and District Residents Association (BADRA) Inc
10th Anniversary Commemorative Event | Rainforest Rhythms Increase community connections and stimulation for local tourism through delivery of a live memorial concert, Rainforest Rhythms, held in the Tarra Bulga National Park. | Balook | $2,500 |
| Boolarra Folk Festival Committee
10th Anniversary Commemorative Event | Boolarra and District Community 2019 Commemorative Bushfire Event Opportunity to reflect on the 2009 bushfire disaster for the 10-year anniversary, via delivery of a commemorative service and community dinner for Boolarra and the surrounding region. | Boolarra | $19,000 |
| Cire Services Inc. | Supported playgroup for Healesville area based at Badger Creek Increase support and reduced isolation for local parents, through delivery of supported playgroup program at Badger Creek Primary School. | Badger Creek | $11,021 |
| Hazelwood – Jeeralang Community Association Inc.
10th Anniversary Commemorative Event | Hazelwood Jeeralang 2009 bushfire commemoration activities Increase community connectedness and opportunities to support each other, through delivery of a Black Saturday 10th Anniversary event at Hazelwood Jeeralang. | Jeeralang North | $9,193 |
| Kinglake Historical Society
Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc. | Kinglake Heritage Centre Increase access to local historical information, through upgrade of an unused community space to accommodate the Kinglake Historical Society.
This organisation will also benefit from the project submitted to CGF Rd 7 by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Inc. The project will support Kinglake HS to digitize and preserve historic material. | Kinglake West /
Pheasant Creek | $20,000 |
| Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc.
10th Anniversary Commemorative Event | Respect and Remember – “The Kinglake Ranges Journey” Opportunity for the community to reflect on the 2009 disaster event and 10 years of local recovery, via a six-week interactive community art exhibition displayed in Kinglake. | Kinglake Kinglake West Flowerdale Toolangi | $28,176 |
| Lions Club of Kinglake Inc. | Avenue of Honour Recognition and commemoration of soldiers who fought for Australia with the creation of an Avenue of Honour leading up to and surrounding Kinglake’s war memorial. | Kinglake | $2,000 |
| Maiden Gully Hall Committee Inc. | New Chairs for the Maiden Gully Hall Increase comfort and safety for community groups that meet at the Maiden Gully Hall through the purchase of new chairs. | Maiden Gully | $8,316 |
| Men’s Shed at St Andrews | Shed extension and machinery upgrade to enhance member and local community health and safety Increase storage area and upgraded machinery, increasing space and improving working conditions at the Men’s Shed at St Andrews. | St Andrews | $19,776 |
| Mitchell Community Radio Inc. | Broadford Monthly Increase awareness of local initiatives and community activity, via outside community radio broadcast delivered from Broadford Living and Learning Centre. | Broadford | $1,880 |
| Firefoxes Australia Women Rising Together From Black Saturday | 90 Up: Stars burning brightly Increase awareness of how to overcome adversity and build resilience, through capturing and sharing the stories of Murrindindi Shire residents who are over 90-years-old. | Alexandra Yea Eildon Buxton | $20,000 |
| Mudgegonga Hall Reserve Committee Inc. | Mudgegonga Hall Child Safety Fence Increase safety for families with children when attending community events and activities, due to upgrade of fencing around Mudgegonga Hall. | Mudgegonga District | $10,863 |
| Nillumbik Shire Council | Tech, Tea and Tales Increase skills in technology and communication for local seniors via delivery of the youth led Tech, Tea and Tales program in collaboration with the St Andrews Community Centre. | St Andrews | $20,000 |
| Reedy Creek Progress Association Reedy Creek Progress Association Inc. | Reedy Creek Community Gatherings Opportunities to connect and build community resilience, through the delivery of seven community gatherings at the Reedy Creek Hall over 2019. | Reedy Creek | $2,500 |
| Resilience Planning Community of Practice Inc. | Beechworth Festival of Change Increase inspiration and motivation to implement solutions to community issues, through delivery of skill development and resources at the Beechworth Festival of Change. | Beechworth | $20,000 |
| Rotary Club of Alexandra | Go Green Increase support for residents to clean up their properties in preparation for the bushfire season, through purchase of tipping trailer for volunteer run green waste program. | Alexandra Taggerty Thornton Eildon | $5,500 |
| Toolangi District Community House Inc. | Staging for the C J Dennis Hall Support cultural development and improve audience experience with the purchase of a portable stage for community hall in Toolangi. | Toolangi | $5,457 |
| Traralgon South and District Association
10th Anniversary Commemorative Event | 10-Year Black Saturday event Opportunity to reflect on the 2009 bushfire disaster for the 10-year anniversary, via delivery of a commemorative service and community dinner for Traralgon South and the surrounding region. | Traralgon South Callignee | $12,395 |
| UCA – Kinglake West Uniting Church | Feeding the Many Needs Increase social and physical wellbeing and strengthened community networks through delivery of fortnightly community meal program. | Kinglake West /
Pheasant Creek | $4,400 |
| Whittlesea Community House | A mosaic of community connections and resilience Strengthen community connectedness achieved through the delivery of inclusive creative art workshops that will produce four mosaic installations for the Whittlesea community. | Whittlesea | $15,130 |
| Women on Farms – West Gippsland Inc | Sponsorship for women to attend the Women on Farms Gathering
Opportunity for farming women from bushfire affected areas to increase wellbeing and resilience, through support to attend the Women on Farms Gathering 2019 in Warragul. | Warragul | $9,800 |
| Yinnar and District Memorial Hall | NO LIMITS Removing barriers to participation in facilitated health and wellbeing activities, through delivery of a weekly Exercise program for Seniors 60yrs+ in Yinnar. | Yinnar | $18,500 |
| Ellimatta Inc. | A Bright & Positive Future for Youth – 2
Continue access to support services and programs for youth through supporting the employment of staff at Ellimatta Youth Service in Kinglake. | Kinglake | $30,000 |
| Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc. | Be Well in the Ranges
Removing barriers to mental health support for the Kinglake community during the 10th Anniversary of Black Saturday by providing ease of access to locally based mental health professionals. Removing barriers to mental health support for the Kinglake community during the 10th Anniversary of Black Saturday by providing ease of access to locally based mental health professionals. | Kinglake | $89,206 |
| Community Group Futures – Round 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant |
| Art Resource Collective Incorporated | Solar PV Project Installation of solar panels for the Art Resource Collective Inc, Yinnar, reducing energy costs and increasing the viability of an entity that supports community access to cultural and artistic opportunities. | Yinnar | $10,000 |
| Ellimatta Inc. | Ellimatta Sunshine for Power Increase viability and sustainability for Ellimatta Youth Centre, through installation of a solar power system. | Kinglake | $7,781 |
| Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc. | Sustainability in the Ranges – Solar Build community resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through installation of 6.4 kW solar system. | Kinglake | $10,000 |
| Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc. | Kinglake Ranges Arts Recovery Officer Increase collaboration and support for arts organisations and initiatives through employment of an Arts Recovery Officer for the Kinglake region. | Kinglake Kinglake West Pheasant Creek Kinglake Central | $20,000 |
| Mount Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc. | Volunteering for Success Increase volunteerism for community organisations in Mount Beauty, through employment of a Volunteer Coordinator to increase awareness of, resources and support for, volunteer roles. | Mt Beauty Bright Tawonga Myrtleford | $20,000 |
| Murrindindi Little Athletics Centre | Good Governance in Murrindindi Increase support for community-based Committees of Management, through delivery of Governance training to 10 groups in Murrindindi Shire. | Alexandra Kinglake Yarck Taggerty | $14,300 |
| Royal Historical Society of Victoria Inc. | Digitise or lose it! Preservation of local history through the purchase of equipment and the delivery of training to digitise historic documents and photos at four historical Societies in bushfire prone areas. | Marysville Kinglake Alexandra & Fawcett | $20,000 |
| Toolangi District Community House Inc. | Solar Panels for the Community House Reduce running costs and increased investment in community through installation of solar power system for Toolangi District Community House. | Toolangi | $8,800 |
| Yarra Valley ECOSS Inc. | Project Development Officer at ECOSS Enhance program outcomes and organisational viability, through employment of skilled support to develop policies, procedures and workplans that underpin program delivery. | Wesburn | $20,000 |
