Cotton communities receive $150,000 boost

Media Releases, 20 November 2020

30 communities share in small grants

Schools, sports clubs and a rural fire brigade are among the 30 not-for-profit organisations in rural and regional cotton-growing communities to receive a $5,000 boost from the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program.

This year marks the seventh round of the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program, which the Crop Science division of Bayer delivers in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). This year’s program takes the total investment into cotton communities to more than one million dollars.

Local cotton growers nominated each of the not-for-profits that are receiving funds, which will help strengthen community resilience and positively impact the wellbeing of cotton-growing communities. 

FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said a consistent theme across nominations this year was a strong desire to boost morale and maintain community spirit in the face of drought.

“Local cotton-growing communities, already dealing with the stresses of sustained drought, have told us of the additional strain caused by COVID-19 restrictions. For these groups, normal fundraising activities have been turned on their head with local businesses, already struggling to survive, unable to lend their support to these community organisations,” Ms Egleton said. 

“It’s wonderful to have partners like Bayer to be able to help to alleviate some of their fundraising challenges as they work hard to keep their communities connected and address critical community needs.

“There are so many not-for-profit groups and local charities doing wonderful things to make cotton-growing communities great places to live and work. This year we’ve seen many groups seeking support to develop and build organisational and community resilience. Their determination to see their communities thrive, despite the challenges they face, is inspiring,” Ms Egleton said. 

Bayer Crop Science Head of Customer Marketing for Australia and New Zealand Tony May congratulated the winners and said the funding will assist in bringing people together again after being disconnected by COVID-19 restrictions.

“Many of the projects being funded will ensure cotton-growing communities can interact and connect with one another safely during the pandemic,” Mr May said.  

“The grants will help build community gardens, upgrade facilities for digital learning and enhance outdoor areas to foster connections.”

Gogeldrie Rural Fire Brigade in central north Riverina NSW, was a recipient of one of the 30 Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities grants. The brigade plan to use the grant to invest in suitable gym equipment to ensure the safety of its users. Currently gym users are improvising, including dragging around spare tyres tied on with rope.   

On hearing they had been successful, Gogeldrie Fire Brigade Captain David Pike said it was fantastic news and would make a big difference to their small community.  

“Providing appropriate gym equipment will be a nice reward for our volunteer fire fighters and motivate our farmers to come together and put their health and wellbeing first, more often,” Captain Pike said.

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

Jump to : NSW Communities | QLD Communities

OrganisationProjectLocationGrant
NEW SOUTH WALES
Darling River Food & Fibre (Bourke)
Bourke & District Children’s ServicesEnhance community identity and connection through the installation of a culturally relevant outdoor space.Bourke$5,000
Gwydir Valley
Moree & District Historical SocietyDevelop organisational resilience and capacity through the installation of solar panels.Moree$5,000
St Philomenas Catholic School Moree P & FSupport school engagement and enhance learning outcomes through the construction of an outdoor classroom.Moree$5,000
Lower Namoi
Wee Waa Branch Country Women’s Association of NSWIncrease community inclusion through construction of a safety ramp to support access to the CWA hall.Wee Waa$5,000
Wee Waa Rotary Club IncSupport organisational capacity through the purchase of a portable coolroom.Wee Waa$5,000
Macquarie
Trangie Country Women’s Association – Country Women’s Association of NSWIncrease community inclusion through the installation of safety railing to a newly installed ramp at the CWA hall.Trangie$5,000
Warren Central SchoolSupport life long learning through the establishment of a kitchen garden program.Warren$5,000
Warren Youth Support Group IncorporatedFacilitate positive engagement and support of young people through the installation of a permanent gazebo and outdoor furniture.Warren$5,000
Mungindi Water Users
Mungindi Junior Rugby League Club IncFoster social wellbeing and connectivity through a kitchen upgrade.Mungindi$5,000
Southern Valleys
Coleambally Central School P&C AssociationEnhance educational opportunities through the construction of a covered area linking classrooms and providing a safe all-weather play area.Coleambally$5,000
Gogeldrie Rural Fire BrigadeSupport individual and community health and wellbeing through the purchase of gym equipment.Gogeldrie$5,000
Griffith Public School Parents and Citizens AssociationIncrease educational opportunities through the purchase of readers for junior classrooms.Griffith$5,000
Hillston Billylids IncEnhance educational opportunities and social skill development through the purchase of digital learning resources and upgrade to play area.Hillston$5,000
Country Education Foundation of Coleambally-Darlington Point Incorporated (CEFCPD)Support lifelong learning, education and training through the support of a grants program that enables young people to complete post secondary education.Coleambally$5,000
Murrumbidgee Shire CouncilFoster community health and wellbeing through fencing of a community garden.Coleambally$5,000
Upper Namoi
Carroll Community Bus IncorporatedFoster community connectivity and resilience through repairs to the community bus.Carroll$5,000
Ooranga Family Mobile Resource Unit Assoc IncProvide access to diverse learning environments through the replacement of the existing kitchen.Gunnedah$5,000
Spring Ridge Public School Parents and Citizens AssociationEnable participation in educational opportunities through support of an annual student trip to Canberra.Spring Ridge$5,000
QUEENSLAND
Central Highlands
Rolleston Cricket Club IncBuild community resilience through the purchase of a defibrillator and ice making machine.Rolleston$5,000
Darling Downs
11th Light Horse Darling Downs Troop Inc.Support the preservation of local history by upgrading facilities that house historical memorabilia.Highfields$5,000
Cecil Plains History GroupSupport organisational resilience and the promotion of local history through the installation of a rainwater tank and purchase of display stands.Cecil Plains$5,000
Friends of Jondaryan Woolshed IncEnhance the preservation and promotion of local history through exhibit fencing to protect historical artifacts.Jondaryan$5,000
Rotary Club of Dalby IncIncrease organisational capacity through upgrade of existing catering trailer.Dalby$5,000
Wheatlands Primary P&C AssocEnhance student learning opportunities and support community connection, through the provision of a protected outdoor space.Wheatlands$5,000
Dawson Valley
Theodore Bowls Club IncorporatedDevelop organisational resilience and capacity through the provision of a ride on mower and outdoor vac.Theodore$5,000
Dirranbandi
Dirranbandi Arts Council IncorporatedIncrease volunteer comfort and safety through the installation of meeting room air conditioning and security cameras to community spaces.Dirranbandi$5,000
Macintyre Valley
Lundavra Primary P&C AssociationSupport student wellbeing and community resilience, through the purchase of a water tank to maintain school grounds.Lundavra$5,000
Macintyre Ag Alliance Inc.Support environmental outcomes through the purchasing of weed spraying equipment.Goondiwindi$5,000
St George
St George Tourism and Museum Association Inc.Support community resillience and raise community morale through restoration of a historical building.St George$5,000
Northern Australia (North of Latitude 21.15 degrees South)
Cowboys Charity LimitedSupport learning opportunities for Indigenous students through fit out of boarding room accomodation.Townsville$5,000
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.