News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program grants awarded

Media Releases, Recovery & Resilience Stories, 17 June 2020

Nearly $370,000 in grants for bushfire-affected communities

News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program

Bendigo, 18 June 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), in partnership with News Corp Australia, has awarded $368,386 to support 21 projects across the country that will help in the recovery of rural, regional and remote communities impacted by the summer bushfires.

Funded through the News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program, these grants, which are up to $25,000 each, will help address a diverse range of needs including improving social connectedness, enhancing community spirit and increasing community preparedness.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, says for many of these communities, social and economic recovery is really only just starting to get underway, especially given the limitations imposed by COVID-19.

“From our experience supporting disaster-affected communities, we know that for those affected by this summer’s bushfires, their recovery will be a long and ongoing process. Communities need access to funding now, and into the medium to long-term. Our partnership with News Corp is a great opportunity to get funds on the ground,” said Ms Egleton.

“Their support means these grants will enable local community groups to lead local recovery efforts in a way that best meets the priorities of that community, because it’s different for each impacted community.

“For some communities, the priority is rebuilding facilities lost in the fire, such as the Eurobodalla Wood Makers Guild building in Batemans Bay. For others it’s reviving the community’s arts and culture, like celebrating the local music scene in Mallacoota, and for others it’s about supporting mental health and wellbeing, through gardening projects that will also restore the local bee population in the Bega Valley.”

Penny Fowler, Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador says there was a wide range of applications, but a particularly strong demand for infrastructure and equipment to rebuild impacted regions.

“Communities in regional and rural Australia have been hit by so much devastation this year. We are delighted to provide some hope and bring the spirit back into communities with these bushfire grants.

“We hope our grants for community-led projects will help people recover and rebuild.  We look forward to partnering with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal to support and help bushfire affected areas become stronger communities.”

Some of the 21 projects awarded include:

  • Capricorn Film Festival Inc, QLD – Mentoring Our Region – $25,000 – Support lifelong learning and enable communities to tell their stories through a creative mentoring project that will create and screen locally made films.
  • Eden Whalers Australian Football Club Inc, NSW – Evacuation Centre Emergency Upgrades – $10,000 – Build community resilience and preparedness with evacuation centre equipment for the new pavilion.
  • Friends of the One and All Sailing Ship Incorporated, SA – Sail for Recovery – $22,500 – Support individual and community wellbeing to enable the learning of coping strategies and self-management in recovery.
  • Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Club Incorporated, VIC – Purchase of Defibrillator – $2,850 – Support community wellbeing and preparedness with access to life saving equipment.

A second round of the News Corp Bushfire Recovery Program will open 1 July. In total, there is a further $630,000 available. Applications are invited from community groups ins Local Government Areas with a bushfire disaster declaration from September 2019 to January / February 2020.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.

Organisation

Project & Summary

Location

Grant

Eurobodalla Woodcraft Guild Incorporated Rebuilding the Eurobodalla Woodies

Strengthen and support community volunteering by rebuilding the fire-destroyed workshop.

 Batemans Bay, NSW

$25,000
Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club Inc Lifesaving Equipment for Bermagui SLSC

Build the capacity and strengthen a local volunteer community group to increase safety, and support of emergency services.

 Bermagui, NSW

$19,900
Buxton Public School P&C Association Through Play Comes Recovery

Support community resilience and individual and community wellbeing through access to play equipment.

 Buxton, NSW

$25,000
Bumbalong Valley Progress Association Bumbalong Valley Community Facility

Strengthen the local community in their recovery by rebuilding a facility for all to access.

 Cooma, NSW

$21,040
Eden Service and Social Club Inc Purchasing a Generator

Build organisational capacity in the volunteer community group to raise funds and support events.

 Eden, NSW

$2,349
Eden Whalers Australian Football Club Inc Evacuation Centre Emergency Upgrades

Build community resilience and preparedness with evacuation centre equipment for the new pavilion.

 Eden, NSW

$10,000
Arts Mid North Coast Arts for Recovery

Develop and deliver a creative recovery arts projects in fire-impacted areas and report on how art and creative recovery can best be incorporated into emergency planning and responses.

 Moorland, NSW

$15,500
Manning River Agricultural and Horticultural Society Providing Additional Power and Water Outlets

Support community resilience and preparedness by enhancing the facility for community and evacuation activities.

 Taree, NSW

$19,960
Wellways Australia Limited RECOVERY – Our Community, Our People, Our Bees

Promote inclusion, engagement and recovery through sustainable eco-programs for whole-of-community development and benefit.

 Bega, NSW

$25,000
Capricorn Film Festival Inc Mentoring Our Region

Support lifelong learning and enable communities to tell their stories through a creative mentoring project that will create and screen locally made films.

 Gladstone, QLD

$25,000
Friends of the One and All Sailing Ship Incorporated Sail for Recovery

Support individual and community wellbeing through teaching coping strategies and self-management in recovery.

 Kangaroo Island, SA

$22,500
Riviera Care The Armoury

Build the capacity of the community centre with a facility upgrade enabling programs for local skill development and an environment that promotes positive mental health, friendship and personal growth.

 Bairnsdale, VIC

$18,923
Corryong Neighbourhood House Inc Out & About

Enabling a local community youth program’s activities through purchasing an equipment trailer that will also be available for locals to utilise.

 Corryong, VIC

$13,450
Genoa Public Hall Repairing Fire-Damaged Fences and Entry at Genoa Public Hall

Building capacity in the community by making critical repairs to important local infrastructure used for meetings and emergency evacuation.

 Genoa, VIC

$19,492
Lakes Entrance Action & Development Association Inc Lakes Entrance – Entrance Walk

Build community resilience by upgrading the footbridge at the Entrance Walk and undertaking environmental rehabilitation, which will support locals and tourism.

 Lakes Entrance, VIC

$24,100
Lindenow Sports Ground Management Committee Incorporated Cool Room Installation

Build organisational capacity through upgrading the facility with a new cool room to improve operations and reduce costs.

 Lindenow, VIC

$22,363
Mallacoota Community Health Infrastructure and Resilience Fund Incorporated Out of the Ashes – Mallacoota’s Musical Revival

Contribute to a culturally vibrant community by supporting a community-led healing project for recovery.

 Mallacoota, VIC

$24,938
Mallacoota Hall and Recreation Committee Marquees for Outdoor Events

Enable social connection and support community participation in outdoor activity through increased equipment for events.

 Mallacoota, VIC

$7,020
Kiewa Valley Community Radio Inc Employment of a Marketing & Sponsorship Manager

Build capacity of Alpine Radio (community radio) to support business development and local services continuity by enhancing the marketing capability of the station.

 Mount Beauty, VIC

$6,000
Community Broadcasting Foundation Specialist Journalist Training for Reporting Trauma Events

Promote individual and community wellbeing through developing expertise and resilience for broadcasters.

 Bairnsdale, VIC
Mallacoota, VIC
Moruya, NSW and Braidwood, NSW

$18,000
Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Club Incorporated Purchase of Defibrillator

Support community wellbeing and preparedness by improving access to life saving equipment.

 Orbost, VIC

$2,850
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.