Christmas has come early for a host of community members and groups, who have been bolstered by grants.
A dozen local not-for-profit and community organisations benefited from Aura Community Grants.
Baringa Football Club, Free to Flourish Community Support Group, Kairos Community College, Sunshine Coast Cricket Association Inc, Centacare Community Services, Aura Connected, Salty Souls Legacy, Gateway Care Limited, Coast2Bay Housing Group, Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated, Caloundra Committee of Service to the Ageing t/as CCSA Hall and Tibros Netball shared in $268,908, at a ceremony at the new Aura Vision Centre.
The Aura Community Grants program has provided more than $1.5m to groups in the area during the past five years.
Local heroes
The Member for Glass House Andrew Powell congratulated round four winners of his Local Heroes Grants.
“These are the final round of winners for 2022 and what a good bunch they were,” he said via a press release.
“I hope these grants help spread a little Christmas cheer in what is arguably the most expensive month of the year.”
Javelin athlete Rory Collins received funding to represent the state and pay for his levy and apparel, Area 3 Toastmasters received assistance to hold their annual conference, PCYC Emergency Services Cadets Woodford Unit received financing for educational training. Voluntary Adult Leaders will visit and teach young people aged 12 to 17 to become Emergency Services Personnel later in life. Maleny & District Chamber of Commerce received funding for the Maleny Christmas Festival.
“I’m especially a fan of the Toastmasters,” Mr Powell said.
“They host educational sessions on leadership and communication and are a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to improve their public speaking, confidence and more.”
Environment edge
A host of groups shared in more than $50,000, thanks to Unitywater’s Community Grants Program.
The program provides funding to grassroots initiatives that support environmental outcomes, as well as supporting programs that help with issues faced by our community in the areas of homelessness, mental health, domestic and family violence and youth.
Mooloolah River Landcare received a grant for the second year in a row.
Biocontrol and Catchments Officer Jessica Raintree said the group’s biocontrol facility was important to protect waterways and the environment.
“One of the big threats to our habitats is invasive weeds and in our bio facility we breed two different bio agent beetles that go out and eat two invasive weeds of national significance – the madeira vine and the cats claw creeper,” she said via a UnityWater media release.
Other grant recipients were Bamboo Projects Education Ltd, Fishability QLD Inc, Lily House, Loaves and Fishes Street Meet Care Services, Mooloolah Waterwatch and Landcare Inc, Noosa Environmental Educational Hub, Noosa Women’s Shed, RESET Support Service, Ten Little Pieces, Wildlife Noosa Ltd and Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast Inc.
Skilled workers
The State Government committed more than $5.1 million from its Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to assist 951 people from the Sunshine Coast.
The Member for Caloundra, Jason Hunt said it was wonderful to see funding for local projects in the latest round.
“The assistance these projects will provide to Sunshine Coast residents will be invaluable,” he said.
“In my electorate alone, 40 people will receive support to up-skill themselves from the Solution Network Australia Foundation.”
Among those set to benefit were Noosa Community Training Centre’s Reframe It II project, Five Bridges’ Stronger Foundations for Your Future project in Maroochydore, The Solution Network Australia Foundation’s Digital Business Mastery project and Skill Centred Queensland’s iCARE! 2023 project.
Art boost
Six artists from the Noosa region have received a cash boost of $38,440, from the Regional Arts Development Fund Grants.
Paulie Maloney will use the grant to work with a group of local artists and creatives to document and create new work around a community of female surfers in Noosa.
“The funding will help provide these artists a platform to spread awareness for women in the surf and to show the work they’ve been doing,” Ms Maloney said.
Other recipients were Pomona and District Community House, Studio 26, Cooroy-based ceramicist Tania Edwards, Cooroy-based gallery and social enterprise Sonder Gallery and Pomona artist Tia Carrigan.
Community house renewal
Noosa Council has committed more than $174,400 to support 12 community projects, events, equipment, infrastructure and programs, in the latest Community Grant round.
Mayor Clare Stewart said local groups “deliver invaluable projects and events for the local community.”
The Kin Kin Community Group will receive funding for the Kin Kin Community House Renewal Project.
The group’s Kaylie Porter-Smith and Mark McCormick said the renewal project will help reignite the community spirit and offer new opportunities for all ages within the community.
“Since the Community House was closed for three years our locals have experienced disconnection by not having a central place of coming together especially in our remote hinterland location,” Mr McCormick said.
“This grant is helping to create a community space once again, offering new support services and a community office for volunteers and community to benefit from,” Ms Porter-Smith added.
Among other beneficiaries were Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens Community Group, Rowing Australia to support the Oceania Coastal Rowing and Beach Sprint Championships, and Tewantin Noosa Pony Club.
Basketball boost among minor grants round
Sunshine Coast Council’s Community Grants Program is set to continue helping local community organisations, with more than $96,000 awarded in the most recent round.
Fifty-seven community groups have been able to undertake upgrades, purchase equipment, supply training for volunteers and deliver local community programs thanks to Council’s Minor Grants Program.
Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Basketball was awarded a Minor Grant of $2000 to help purchase equipment, including portable junior basketball hoops, training vests and referee whistles to support the weekly kids’ club wheelchair basketball program at UniSC stadium.
Club secretary Sharon said the grant would make a difference.
“The funding the club received will go towards the Suncoast Spinners Kids Club Program, which is a program that promotes the health and wellbeing of children with a disability to stay fit and active, as well as a way to make connection with the community outside of school hours,” she said.
Among other recipients were Chancellor Park Soccer Club, Buddina Community Garden, and Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe Club.
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