FRRR has awarded $642,481 in grants for 36 projects that will help seed and strengthen the recovery of regions impacted by the Black Summer bushfires, through its Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.
The bushfire recovery stream provides grants up to $25,000 for projects that promote community healing and the renewal of remote, rural, and regional communities following the 2019/2020 bushfires.
Grants range from $2,953 to help the New South Wales’ Burragate community prepare for future disasters, through to a $25,000 grant to increase access to mental health support for community members across five bushfire impacted communities in South Australia.
Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that over the past year rural people have demonstrated the true meaning of resilience and determination and continued to find ways of addressing the needs of their communities.
“Recovery in bushfire-affected regions has been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions, but local organisations are still seeking to do what they can to meet the local priorities in their community.
“This round we saw an increase in requests to fund projects that will provide access to services and activities as impacted communities begin to resume normal activities and reconnect one year on from the fires. This includes Tenterfield in NSW, where a series of creative workshops will support the social and mental health of locals.
“Improving and repairing infrastructure is also an important part of the recovery process for many of these communities. These meeting places, like Katanning’s central shopping precinct in Western Australia and the local Hall in Charleston, South Australia, played a vital role during the bushfires, providing the community with a safe place to gather during the fires, or as a space to gather in order to reconnect and seek support after the disaster,” Ms Egleton explained.
Some of the 36 projects awarded include:
- Bermagui Preschool Co-operative Society Limited, NSW – The Cobargo/Bermagui Growing-Growers Project 2021 with Cost Georgiadis & Paul West – $25,000 – Increase social connectedness and local food security, through delivery of collaborative preschool garden activities and Costa Georgiadis events.
- Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Community Radio Association Inc, QLD – Stanthorpe Community Radio Transmission Equipment – $9,773 – Increase communication of local news, events and emergency information, by supporting the establishment of a community radio station.
- Penneshaw Progress Association Inc, SA – Penneshaw Town Hall Evacuation Centre – Catering Facilities – $25,000 – Increase preparedness for future disaster events by upgrading the kitchen at the Penneshaw Town Hall.
- Corryong Neighbourhood House Inc, VIC – Giving Youth a Voice – $25,000 – Increase youth representation in community recovery and development, through employment of youth workers to support youth leadership in the Upper Murray.
- Shire of Katanning, WA – Vibrant Katanning – $22,000 – Support economic and social recovery, through upgrading Katanning’s central shopping precinct.
The SRC program is collaboratively-funded and offers two streams of funding. In addition to the $642,481 in bushfire recovery funding, $420,003 in grants has been awarded via the program’s Small & Vital grants stream.
The SRC program is collaboratively supported by a number of generous donors, which are listed on FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/strengthening-rural-communities/.
The next round of SRC applications is currently being assessed and will be announced June 2021. The current round is accepting applications until 25 May 2021, with funds to be awarded in December
Visit here for more information on FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities program and other grant programs to support communities before, during, and after a natural disaster or drought, and build communities’ climate resilience.
To support grants like this through FRRR, make a tax-deductible donation at frrr.org.au/giving/.
A full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.
Jump to: NSW | QLD | SA | VIC | WA
| Organisation | Project | Location | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW SOUTH WALES | ||||||
| Bega Valley Meals on Wheels Co-operative Ltd | Bega Valley Mobile Community Freezer Increase food security, including for future disasters, through the purchase of a mobile freezer. | Bega | $16,000 | |||
| Bermagui Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Inc | Keeping Bermagui Connected & Safe Boost communication capacity during and before natural disaster disasters through the purchase of wireless computer and printer equipment, and re-establishing signage for the 17km Heritage Trail. | Bermagui | $15,373 | |||
| Bermagui Pre School Co-operative Society Limited | The Cobargo/Bermagui Growing-Growers Project 2021 with Costa Georgiadis & Paul West Increase social connectedness and local food security in fire-affected community, through delivery of collaborative preschool garden activities and Costa Georgiadis events. | Bermagui | $25,000 | |||
| Burragate Rural Fire Service | Office Equipment for the Burragate Fire Shed Boost the community's ability to prepare for future disasters by purchasing computer and office supplies to support Burragate Rural Fire Service. | Burragate | $2,953 | |||
| Delegate Progress Association Inc. | Recovery BBQ Support community connection and recovery by installing an electric barbeque at Memorial Park to host community barbeques and debrief events for the bushfire-affected community. | Delegate | $15,000 | |||
| Eden Mountain Bike Club IncEden Community Access Centre Incorporated | Eden Mountain Bike Trails Design a community-driven mountain bike trail in the Eden region to support economic recovery, through development of Environmental Impact Study and Concept Plans. | Eden | $25,000 | |||
| Eungai Hall Section 355 Committee of ManagemenNambucca Valley Council | Kitchen Upgrade for Community Use and Resilience Expand the use of the Community Hall by upgrading the kitchen facilities to allow for more community events and activities to occur. | Eungai Creek | $12,441 | |||
| Ewingar TheatricksClarence Valley Council | Theatrical Production Support the community's recovery by bringing people together to deliver a locally-set play. | Ewingar | $14,460 | |||
| Glen Innes Severn Council | Wytaliba Rises Sustainable Community Music Events Encourage people to come together and support recovery by providing equipment for music events. | Die Hard Wytaliba | $9,267 | |||
| Glenrac Incorporated | Providing Homes for our Hollow Nesting Species Encourage local species back to their habitat following the bushfires, through the creation of nesting boxes at facilitated workshops. | Glen Innes | $19,756 | |||
| Granite Borders Landcare Committee Incorporated | Reconnecting Communities - Workshops Focusing on Health and Wellbeing for Fire-Affected Villages in the Tenterfield LGA Reduce social isolation and support community recovery, through the delivery of workshops in remote towns across the Tenterfield Shire. | Tenterfield | $25,000 | |||
| Lawrence Historical Society Incorporated | Workshop for Sharing, Supporting and Skills Support community recovery and increase volunteer engagement at Lawrence Historical Society by building a new workshop shed. | Lawrence | $15,820 | |||
| Make a Difference PMQ Incorporated | M.A.D. Mobile Food Van Increase capacity to support outreach to homeless and vulnerable populations in fire-affected communities, through fitout of a mobile food van and construction of an event stage. | Port Macquarie | $25,000 | |||
| Make It Tenterfield Incorporated | Creativity Abound Workshops Support social and mental health recovery through the delivery of creative and supportive community-based workshops. | Tenterfield | $24,000 | |||
| Marlee Rural Fire Brigade | Marlee Safer Place Upgrade Increase preparedness for future disasters, through upgrade to central meeting space to create a Neighbourhood Safer Place for the community. | Marlee | $15,205 | |||
| Mingoola Hall Management Committee | Bringing Mingoola Community Together to Celebrate our Uniquely Beautiful Environment Strengthen community connection and recovery in Mingoola via the delivery of the inaugural Mingoola Big River Picnic event. | Mingoola | $10,000 | |||
| Monaro Early Intervention Service Incorporated | Wheelchair Access to Sensory Garden Improved access to sensory garden to support wellbeing of children affected by fires, through construction of a ramp at early intervention service. | Cooma | $19,000 | |||
| Nowendoc Ladies Auxilery | Keep us Fit and Healthy Increase health, wellbeing and individual recovery, through delivery of weekly exercise sessions for ageing community members in Nowendoc. | Nowendoc | $12,000 | |||
| Nowendoc Memorial Hall Land Manager | Save us from Frosty Toes and Nose! Increase comfort and amenity at the Nowendoc Memorial Hall to support community recovery, through the installation of air conditioning. | Nowendoc | $25,000 | |||
| Nymboida P&C Association | Establish a Nymboida Community Kitchen by Upgrading the Nymboida P&C Kitchen Facilities to Complement the Nymboida PS Community Vegetable Garden Increase capacity to cater for school and community recovery and preparedness activities, through the upgrade of the school kitchen/canteen area at Nymboida School. | Nymboida | $25,000 | |||
| Rotary Club of GuyraGuyra Garden Club | The Guyra Spring Flower Festival 2021 incorporating a Memorial Avenue and a Mandala Garden Deliver the inaugural annual 'Guyra Spring Flower Festival' in 2021 and plant a Memorial Avenue and Mandala Garden to honour service people. | Guyra | $10,000 | |||
| Wilsons Creek Community Hall Inc | Prepare, Respond and Recover - Wilsons Creek, Huonbrook, & Wanganui Increase preparedness for future disasters through resourcing and upgrading the local hall as a local evacuation centre. | Wilsons Creek | $23,078 | |||
| Wingham Showground Land Manager | Acknowledging our Heritage, Respecting our Future Strengthen sense of place and connectedness during recovery by erecting four billboards displaying historically significant photographs of the Showgrounds. | Wingham | $5,920 | |||
| QUEENSLAND | ||||||
| Atherton Men's Shed Incorporated | Enlarging Atherton Men's Shed Space Support local men, and projects benefiting the wider community, through expansion of Atherton Men's Shed workspace. | Atherton | $9,000 | |||
| Charters Towers Rural Fire Brigade | Interactive Screen for Training Increased rural fire brigade's ability to deliver training and presentations, through the purchase of an interactive screen. | Charters Towers | $6,435 | |||
| Creative Recovery Network | Disaster Ready Regions - CQRASN 'Shine Bright' Creative Recovery Training Boost community's ability to recover from disasters through creative recovery training for practitioners and community leaders. | Bundaberg | $20,000 | |||
| Friends of Amamoor Inc | Amamoor Rest Room Upgrade Increase capacity to deliver community events and support local recovery via tourism, through upgrade of public toilets. | Amamoor | $10,000 | |||
| Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Community Radio Association Inc | Stanthorpe Community Radio Transmission Equipment Increase communication of local news, events and emergency information, by supporting the establishment of a community radio station. | Stanthorpe | $9,773 | |||
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation Flinders Foundation | Mental Health First Aid Training - Kangaroo Island & Adelaide Hills Increase access to support for community members through the delivery of Mental Health First Aid Training to five bushfire impacted communities. | Lobethal | $25,000 | |||
| Charleston Community Centre Inc | Establishing a Charleston Community Hub Increase use and amenity at the Charleston Hall to support recovery, through installation of air conditioning and upgrade to power supply. | Charleston | $25,000 | |||
| Penneshaw Progress Association Inc | Penneshaw Town Hall Evacuation Centre Catering Facilities Increase preparedness for future disaster events by upgrading the kitchen at the Penneshaw Town Hall. | Penneshaw | $25,000 | |||
| Rotary Club of Onkaparinga Inc | Onkaparinga Rotary Fencing Project Enable volunteers to support community recovery through the purchase of tools, materials, and equipment. | Lobethal | $25,000 | |||
| VICTORIA | ||||||
| Corryong and District Community Youthclub Inc | Refurbishment of the Corryong Youth Hall to Better Support the Community Increase amenity and security at Corryong community hall to support community recovery activities, through upgrade to meeting area and storage space. | Corryong - Upper Murray | $25,000 | |||
| Corryong Neighbourhood House Inc | Giving Youth a Voice Increase youth representation in community recovery and development, through employment of youth workers to support youth leadership in the Upper Murray. | Corryong | $25,000 | |||
| Upper Murray Innovation Foundation | Power to the People Boost and strengthen economic recovery and promote climate friendly travel, through installation of Electric Vehicle charger at Walwa. | Walwa | $25,000 | |||
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA | ||||||
| Shire of Katanning | Vibrant Katanning Support economic and social recovery, through upgrading Katanning's central shopping precinct. | Katanning | $22,000 | |||
