Grants to boost community spirit

Media Releases, 15 May 2023

In partnership with The Yulgilbar Foundation, FRRR has awarded $785,794 in grants to 23 local groups for community projects designed to strengthen community capacity and resilience in the Clarence Valley and surrounding region.

These grants, which are funded through The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund program, are the final tranche of a $2 million commitment awarded over the last three years.

In the wake of the 2019/20 bushfires and subsequent disasters including floods and COVID, these grants will support local groups to foster community connection, education and wellbeing across the region.

Ten of the 23 grants will support local events and festivals. This includes the Grafton Jacaranda Festival for a concert for 5,000 people Featuring Troy Cassar-Daley and Don Walker.

Also set to perform on stage at the Grafton Jacaranda Festival is the Big Scrub Orchestra, which has also been awarded funds. The Orchestra’s grant will support music workshops to boost resilience, health and wellbeing of local children in five small rural public schools and support their performance in the Jacaranda Festival.

Sarah Matthee, FRRR’s General Manager of Partnerships and Services, said that the projects funded demonstrate the important role that social connectedness plays in disaster recovery.

“While each place has its own unique set of recovery needs, in this round of grants we saw many community groups seeking funding for projects designed to bring people together to strengthen social connections, which is such an important part of the recovery process. This also gives us valuable insight into where communities are in their recovery journey.”

Madeleine Noble, Executive Officer of The Yulgilbar Foundation said the Foundation is proud to support a variety of projects across the region, many of which will boost the capacity of local groups to contribute to recovery activities.

“For example, funding for Container of Dreams based near Tabulam will help women develop micro-enterprise skills, Woombah Residents Association will expand activities at the community garden focusing on disaster preparedness, and Lawrence Community Fundraising will run a series of creative workshops and events celebrating local residents and their skills”.

More information is available on FRRR’s website – https://frrr.org.au/funding/the-yulgilbar-foundation-fund/.

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

OrganisationProjectLocationGrant
ARMIDALE
Backtrack Youth Works LtdBackTrack 'Paws Up' School Outreach Program
Grow literacy skills, confidence, and resilience of primary school children in bushfire-affected communities in the NSW New England region through animal-assisted activities linked to school curriculum.		Ben Lomond$30,000
CLARENCE VALLEY
2TLC FM Lower Clarence Community Radio Incorporated AssociationStorage Unit Project
Improve facilities and space at local community radio station in Yamba, northern rivers region, by adding a storage unit for key equipment.		Yamba$12,500
Clarence Valley Conservatorium IncA Smart Conservatorium
Enhance the learning and performing experience of music students through installation of smartboards and computers in teaching studios of the Clarence Valley Conservatorium and purchase of portal stage units.		Grafton$27,480
Genhealth Incorporatedheadspace Grafton - Creative Groups
Boost health, wellbeing and connectedness of young people in Grafton through a series of afterschool and school holiday youth-informed creative arts activities.		Grafton$34,263
Grafton Jacaranda Festival IncTroy Cassar-Daly + Don Walker
Celebrate Indigenous culture, boost community spirit and wellbeing and stimulate the local economy in Grafton through a free concert for 5,000 people featuring Troy Cassar-Daley and Don Walker as part of the famous Jacaranda Festival.		Grafton$30,000
Iluka Community Organisation Planning for Emergencies (ICOPE) IncField of Friends Iluka Village Community Parties Project
Foster community connection and resilience following multiple local disaster events through three free community events across 12 months which will also engage local emergency services organisations to provide education and awareness.		Iluka$17,548
Lawrence Community Fundraising IncLawrence Loves...
Grow community engagement and sense of belonging in the small village of Lawrence in the Northern Rivers following local disaster events and COVID-19 through a series of creative workshops, performances, and a whole community event.		Lawrence$40,000
Mudyala Aboriginal CorporationRising Warriors After School Engagement Program
Boost social connections and activities for Aboriginal youth in the Clarence Valley through youth worker led programs and school holiday activities.		Maclean$45,000
Ozfish Unlimited LimitedNymboida River Riparian, Restoring Habitat for the Endangered Eastern Fresh Water Cod
Improve water quality and fish habitat in the Nymboida River post bushfire events and increase local awareness of natural resource management techniques through planting, restoration activities and educational citizen science program.		Nymboida$40,000
The Big Scrub OrchestraBringing Music Healing to Young People in the Clarence Valley
Boost resilience, health, and wellbeing for children in five small rural public schools following multiple local disasters through 175 Modern Band workshops introducing children to various instruments and song writing as well as performance at the Grafton Jacaranda Festival with local Indigenous music icon Troy Cassar-Daly.		Grafton$49,000
The Long Way Home Byron Writers FestivalStories From The Clarence Valley 2023 - Grow
Share and celebrate stories from residents of the Clarence Valley by publishing a book showcasing local writers collated through The Long Way Home writing competition.		Grafton$2,233
Woombah Residents Association IncorporatedMeet you at the Garden - Building Community Resilience in Woombah
Improve social connections, engagement with local services and awareness of disaster preparedness in Woombah through a series of environmentally themed workshops and community events, equipment and light infrastructure.		Woombah$30,000
COFFS HARBOUR
Glenreagh HeartstartOrara Valley Resilience Hub - Community Consultation
Improve local connections and disaster resilience for residents in the towns and villages of the Orara Valley through community-led consultation to establish a Resilience Hub in Glenreagh.		Upper Orara$26,000
KYOGLE
Friends of the Labyrinth
Kyogle Community Economic Development Committee		A Place for Quiet Contemplation and Inner Peace
Boost health and wellbeing in Kyogle in the northern rivers through the promotion of the local community labyrinth to foster greater awareness and use.		Kyogle$4,682
LISMORE
Arts Northern Rivers IncorporatedNorthern Rivers Creative Industries Recovery Forum 2022
A two-day regional forum for bringing together the creative industry sector to develop a future road map for longer term recovery post 2022 Big Floods in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.		Lismore$15,000
RICHMOND VALLEY
Broadwater Rileys Hill Community CentreRekindling Community Connections in Broadwater
Lift community spirit and connectedness in Broadwater following the devastating floods in the region through monthly community dinners and activities.		Broadwater$10,283
Casinos Own Wireless Association IncCasino Cow Country Music Muster (CCCMM)
Boost community spirit and the local economy following devasting disasters, including recent flooding events, through a five-day country music festival in Casino.		Casino$22,267
Clovass-Mskees Hill Soldiers Memorial and Community Hall IncorporatedPower Us Up
Improve power supply and availability during local outages and in times of disaster at Clovass McKees Hill Soldiers Memorial and Community Hall, Richmond Valley, through installation of a battery to store power generated by the existing solar system.		McKees Hill$18,900
The Evans Head Living Museum IncPurchase a Large Format Printer and Desk Top Tower computer
Increase capacity of the Evans Head Museum to prepare and present displays and support local community groups through new technology by purchasing a desktop computer and large format printer.		Evans Head$10,698
TENTERFIELD
Container of Dreams LtdContainer of Dreams Community Market Cart - Micro-Enterprise Workshops
Empower ten women in Drake to develop micro-enterprise skills to support financial independence, improve wellbeing and resilience, and contribute to the local economy through their own market stalls.		Drake$46,940
ADDITIONAL GRANTS
Arts Northern Rivers IncorporatedScreening Tour to Recovering Bushfire-Affected Communities
Boost social connections and provide an opportunity to reflect and recover for various bushfire-affected communities in rural and regional NSW, including the Clarence Valley, through a live music and documentary screening tour.		Various NSW Locations$127,000
Department of Education
Baryulgil Public School		Strengthening Educational Aspiration and Wellbeing Opportunities in Baryulgil
Foster wellbeing, cultural connections, and educational pathways for students at Baryulgil Public School through an on-site wellbeing hub and minibus providing flexible transport options for the remote school.		Baryulgil$146,000
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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.