Support continues ten years on from Black Saturday

Media Releases, 15 July 2019

Bendigo 17 July 2019: Thirty-six community projects that will assist the continued recovery of communities impacted by the Black Saturday Bushfires will receive funding totalling $602,308. The groups are the latest recipients of the Grants for Resilience and Wellness (GR&W) and Community Group Futures (CGF) programs. To date, the two programs have delivered over $3 million in grants.

The GR&W program focuses on community strengthening and resilience-building projects, while CGF supports not-for-profit organisations to think beyond day-to-day operations and look ahead to ensure they can meet ongoing community need.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.

Marysville & Triangle Community Foundation also received support via the Stronger Community Foundations Program. The Foundation is embarking on a marketing refresh, which includes an updated website and collateral.

This year’s 10th Anniversary of the Black Saturday Bushfires brought many of the communities affected by the devastating event back into focus for the wider public but also reinforced that recovery from something so catastrophic is very much a long-term proposition.

Support is still being sought for disaster preparedness projects, but most requests were for projects that bring communities together, including upgrades to existing community meeting places to improve aspects such as their functionality, comfort and safety. Creating connections from the youngest to the oldest members of the community, both to place and each other, was the other strong theme this round.

FRRR Program Manager, Recovery & Resilience Emma Thomas said that with the tenth anniversary behind them, it was heartening to see these communities looking ahead to the next ten years and beyond.

“The vast majority of applications for grants this round fit within the Strengthening Community Connectedness, Sense of Place, and Community Identity program area,” Ms Thomas said. “When you’ve lost everything, as so many people did during the Black Saturday Bushfires, you get a different perspective on what is important and the things that make life better – these are communities taking charge of their future.

“Another interesting observation is that local primary schools are playing a wide role in the community,” Ms Thomas explained. “It is important that the schools are resourced to handle these extra demands, whether it be creating a more comfortable place for meetings; supporting playgroups and care; or breakfast clubs to ensure kids start the day well and have the best possible chance to learn.”

Among the funded projects are:

  • Upgrading a disused community building, providing additional space for community activities and initiatives in Toolangi.
  • The purchase of instruments and equipment for an inclusive school music program at St Andrews Primary School.
  • Increasing the preparedness for a medical emergency, through updating AED equipment located at community meeting spaces in Steels Creek.
  • Increase awareness of local bushfire history and community preparedness through the delivery of photographic display, emergency kits and community connectedness event at Wandong.

Grants for Resilience and Wellness (GR&W) – Projects

Organisation

Project

Location

$ Awarded

Art Resource Collective Incorporated

Ceramics Studio Floor Renewal
Increase accessibility and safety for community art space through resurfacing of uneven concrete floor at the Art Resource Collective, Yinnar.

Yinnar

$12,049

Arts Yackandandah

Yackandandah Community Hall’s storage upgrade
Increase community capacity and reduce volunteer labour through installing secure storage cabinets in local community meeting areas in Yackandandah.

Yackandandah

$6,000

Boolarra Community Development Group Inc

Boolarra Healing Tent
Increase awareness of alternative therapies that may support health and wellbeing through supporting the Healing Tent at the Boolarra Folk Festival.

Boolarra

$2,500

Coleraine & District Kindergarten Inc

Installation of Shade Sail
Increase use of outdoor learning area, through installation of shade sail at Coleraine & District Kindergarten.

Coleraine

$7,000

Continuing Education & Arts Centre of Alexandra Inc

Alexandra Community Hub Martial Arts Program
Increase physical and emotional wellbeing of local youth through delivery of therapeutic Martial Arts Program sessions.

Alexandra

$9,962

Ellimatta

Commitment to Youth 2020 and beyond
Continue access to support services and programs for youth, supporting the employment of staff at Ellimatta Youth Service in Kinglake.

Kinglake

$120,000

Foggy Mountain Inc

Ten Years On – Foggy Mountain Primary School Recording Project
Increase sense of place and connectedness for local children, through participation in song writing about community and performance at local festival.

Kinglake

$20,000

Jeeralang North Public Hall Reserve

Swinging into Spring – Health & Wellbeing Event Spring 2019
Increase wellbeing and community resilience through delivery of the ‘Swing Into Spring’ inclusive community day of activities.

Jeeralang North

$10,085

Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc Kinglake Landcare Group

Promoting Awareness of the Local Natural Environment
Increase knowledge and connection to the local environment through the delivery of nature walk and propagation workshops held by Kinglake Landcare.

Kinglake

$2,900

Mirboo North Primary School

Kitchen and BBQ
Increase health and wellbeing for students at Mirboo North Primary School through construction of a kitchenette to support delivery of a breakfast program.

Mirboo North

$19,373

Rotary Club of Alexandra

Community Shade and Shelter
Increase participation at community activities and events through the provision of portable shelter and shade which will be available at no cost to local community groups.

Alexandra

$7,000

St Andrews Community Centre Inc

St Andrews Community Group Support Program
Increase support for community driven activities that support connectedness and wellbeing through reducing participation fees and provision of resources and catering.

St Andrews

$16,927

St Andrews Primary School

Playgroup Playground
Enhance resources for early childhood development through construction of junior playground at St Andrews Primary School

St Andrews

$20,000

St Andrews Primary School St Andrews Primary School

Community Band Program
Enhance recovery and community connectedness through purchase of instruments and equipment for inclusive school music program.

St Andrews

$19,880

Steels Creek Community Centre Incorporated

Steels Creek Community Groups AED Update
Increase preparedness for medical emergency, through updating AED equipment located at community meeting spaces in Steels Creek.

Steels Creek

$3,009

Strathewen Recreation Reserve Association

Fire Safety Upgrade
Increase actual and perceived safety for the Strathewen community in the event of bushfire, through fire safety upgrade to Pavilion at local reserve.

Strathewen

$10,000

Tarra Territory Tourism Inc

Gippy Bike
Increase tourism activity and the wellbeing of locals through purchase of push bikes and e-bikes for community bike hire initiative at Yarram.

Yarram

$20,000

Toolangi District Community House Inc

Upgrade of the Maternal Health rooms part two
Upgrade of disused community building, providing additional space for community activities and initiatives in Toolangi.

Toolangi

$18,750

Toolangi District Community House Inc Creative Writers Group

Encourage Active Ageing
Increase awareness of the benefits of social participation for seniors through publication and distribution of Creative Writers Group stories.

Healesville

$858

Toolangi Primary School

Restoration of landscaping around historically significant trees
Improve amenity and safety at Toolangi school, through restoration of retaining wall and pathways around historic and heritage listed trees.

Toolangi

$10,000

Traralgon South Kindergarten Inc

Traralgon South Preschool Black Saturday Commemoration
Increase awareness of local history for preschool aged children, through installation of 2009 Bushfire Memorial Garden and artwork at the Traralgon South Kindergarten.

Traralgon South

$8,076

Wandong History Group Inc

3758: R U READY 10 YEARS ON
Increase awareness of local bushfire history and community preparedness through delivery of photographic display, Emergency kits and community connectedness event at Wandong.

Wandong

$19,995

Whittlesea Community House Inc Whittlesea Landcare

Whittlesea Landcare Community Planting Sessions
Increase opportunities for participation in sustainable land management and agriculture focused community activities through the purchase of tree planting equipment and a trailer for the Whittlesea Landcare Group.

Whittlesea

$10,175

Women’s Health Goulburn North East Gender and Disaster Pod

‘Fire planning with a gender lens saves lives’
Increase awareness of gendered issues that impact on disaster preparation through dissemination of information to CFA’s in the form of a postcard series.

Drouin

$18,232

Y Water Centre Association Inc.

Connecting, Engaging and Empowering Communities to be Environmentally Aware
Increase community awareness regarding local environmental issues through delivery of six keynote speaker presentations at the Y Water Centre.

Yea

$18,000

Yinnar & District Community Association Inc

Re-establishment of Quarterly Newsletter for Yinnar & District
Increase communication of community activities and events through relaunch of community newsletter at Yinnar.

Yinnar

$4,970

Yinnar and District Memorial Hall

SURVIVE & THRIVE
Increase community safety and preparedness for medical emergency, through purchase of a defibrillator for the Yinnar & District Memorial Hall.

Yinnar

$2,715

Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House Inc

Be Well in the Ranges
Remove barriers to mental health support for the Kinglake community in the tenth year since Black Saturday, via providing ease of access to locally based mental health professionals.

Kinglake Ranges

$84,232

 

 

Community Group Futures (CGF) – Projects

Organisation

Project

Location

$ Awarded

Art Resource Collective Incorporated

Building Organisational Capability, Viability and Sustainability
Increase viability and support growth of arc Yinnar through development of strategic and business plans, policies and procedures.

Yinnar

$19,990

Coleraine & District Development Association Inc.

Coleraine & District Website
Increase communication of community events and activities through development of website for Coleraine.

Coleraine

$1,620

Healesville Community Renewable Energy Inc

Healesville CoRE Policy Governance Project
Increase governance and direction for members of Healesville Community Renewable Energy, through development of organisation policies.

Healesville

$6,090

Rivers and Ranges Community Leadership Inc

RRCL Website Revitalisation Project
Increase professionalism and capacity to communicate through development of new website for Rivers and Ranges Community Leadership Program.

Mitchell and Murrindindi Shire

$20,000

Southern Grampians Shire Council

Rooftop Power
Reduce running costs applied to heating the Coleraine Mechanics Institute Hall, through installation of solar system.

Coleraine

$6,000

Whittlesea Men’s Shed Incorporated

Solar Energy Management System for the Whittlesea Men’s Shed
Increase sustainability and support for community projects through installation of a solar system for the Whittlesea Men’s Shed.

Whittlesea

$18,000

Yarra Valley Ecoss Inc Yarra Valley ECOSS

Disabilities and Volunteer Project Development Officer
Increase support to deliver activities that support social and skill development for people with a disability at Yarra Valley ECOSS, through the employment of a Project Officer.

Wesburn

$20,000
 

Stronger Community Foundations – Projects

Organisation

Project

Location

$ Awarded

Marysville and Triangle Community Foundation Limited

Communications – Website restructuring, brochure and template development
Increase capacity to market to potential donors and attract support through development of marketing tools including refreshed website, templates and brochure.

Marysville

Alexandra Yea

Kinglake

$7,920
 
Share
Back to News
Follow Us
Support the future of remote, rural and regional communities
Giving
Grantseeker resources: I am looking for information about…
Explore
X

Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford has an extensive career in complex public policy and its intersection across government and communities.

Amy is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils across the nation. Amy holds over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. She has a deep understanding of federal government policies and structures, with over 10 years’ service in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has worked for the federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. Amy has shaped a wide range of policies and programs including regional development, telecommunications, immigration, emergency management, social policy and pandemic preparation.

Amy is a Board Director of Austroads and represents ALGA on the Public Skills Australia Industry Advisory Group, and the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. She is also a Board Director for the Canberra Youth Theatre which provides voice for Canberra’s youth through intelligent and challenging theatre.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Amy was appointed to the FRRR Board in January 2025.

X

Kylie Hansen

Kylie brings leadership and management experience from across academic, corporate, not-for-profit, social enterprise and impact investment sectors, having deep dived into a myriad of specialisations and systems. Her six tertiary qualifications are equally as diverse and complimentary, covering commerce, politics, international development, community development, project management and law. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to draw on a number of disciplines and innovative ways of working and thinking, and she is well recognised as consistently delivering work and services of a high quality.

Kylie uses her strong background in sustainability, governance and impact measurement to support collaborative initiatives across sectors oriented at improving social outcomes, and to support socially conscientious businesses to articulate their social impact. As founder and director at Impact Seed she has been instrumental in developing the impact measurement, evaluation, learning and ESG practice which advises numerous corporates, and is passionate about supporting First Nations empowerment particularly in the context of regional economic development.

Kylie is also a Director of the WA Social Enterprise Council, a member of the B Council (B Lab Australia and New Zealand), and a Governor of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

X

Hon. John Anderson AC

The Hon. John Anderson AC is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from NSW, who served in the Australian Parliament from 1989 to 2008.

He was a senior Cabinet minister in the government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), including six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the latter role, Mr Anderson played in important role in FRRR’s history, working closely with Baillieu Myer AC and others on a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation to benefit rural Australia. The concept was discussed at the National Regional Summit in 1999 and FRRR was established shortly thereafter.

Mr Anderson currently hosts a regular podcast, where he is in conversation with thought-leaders from around the world, and is a regular media commentator.

X

Regina Cruickshank

Partnerships Specialist (WA)

Regina supports FRRR as the WA Partnerships Specialist. With over two decades of experience in partnerships and marketing, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia’s social impact landscape. She brings a strong passion for leveraging purpose-built networks to create positive change.

Regina previously worked with Playgroup WA and founded a Health Promotion Charity dedicated to supporting Social Emotional wellbeing for underserved communities. She’s excited about the opportunity to connect with partners and explore ways to make a meaningful difference in WA.

She lives in Perth with her family and enjoys mindful moments of connection to Country, whether on horseback, on foot or underwater.

X

Anna Palmer

People and Culture Manager

Based in Central Victoria, Anna is a senior Human Resources, Organisation Development and Industrial Relations professional, with significant private and public sector experience across every facet of people and culture leadership.

Her most recent roles have been with Don KR in Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council. She has also held senior HR roles with Victoria Legal Aid and the TAC among many others.

From Mildura originally, Anna has postgraduate qualifications in Change Management and a Masters in Organisation Dynamics.

Anna is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to balance her creative pursuits and work as an HR professional.

X

Philippa Twaddle

Management Accountant

Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.

She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.