May 23, 2013
Community members gathered in Yarraman on Wednesday night for the annual presentation of grants cheques from the Yarraman & District and Blackbutt Community Bank.
The Bendigo Bank program presented a total of $52,002 to local community groups for projects ranging from organising a medieval festival to distributing sunflower seeds as “seeds of hope” in the community and upgrading premises for a rural fire brigade.
Guest speaker, South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann, praised the community bank concept and said “the Big Five” banks should take a look at the charter of banks like Bendigo “instead of ripping people off”.
He said the community bank branch grants had provided a great benefit to the local region and gave as an example the vehicle donated last year to Graham House in Murgon which is used to transport people to medical appointments.
“What that car has done … you couldn’t put a dollar figure on it. You see that car buzzing around and it is giving people confidence that there are people who care,” he said.
South Burnett Community Enterprises Secretary Dave Robison announced the opening date for the new Nanango branch: June 25.
He said the Board had finalised the four staff who would be working there. Another staff member has also been employed at the Blackbutt branch, taking the overall employment in the South Burnett to 12 staff members.
Yarraman Community Bank Manager Anne Woodrow said that since the community branches had opened in the South Burnett, a total of $450,000 had been returned back to the community by way of grants, sponsorships or donations.
In Queensland, more that $9 million has been given in community grants.
2013 Grants Recipients
- Maclagan Windemere Kindergarten – floor upgrade – $5830
- Anglican Parish of Nanango – Helping Hands – $500
- Friends Of Cultcha Inc – Our Bloomin’ Beautiful Queensland Day – $1500
- Bloomin’ Beautiful Blackbutt Festival Inc – 2013 Festival – $3300
- Blackbutt-Benarkin Community Council – Planning Ahead – $1185
- Anglican Parish of Nanango – Greet, Meet and Eat concrete slab – $2950
- Taromeo Rural Fire Brigade – Firies Fortress – $7473
- Nanango Art Society Inc – Medieval Month – $1000
- Nanart – Nanango Arts Festival – $1000
- St Vincent de Paul Society – Winter appeal – $2000
- Blackbutt State School P&C Association – Before school brekkie program – $1540
- Boots ‘N’ Bulldust Inc – Seeds of Hope – $5000
- Blackbutt State School P&C Association – Replace and upgrade pool steps – $4960
- Nanango Tourism & Development Association – Advance Nanango – $1000
- Yarraman & Blackbutt Scholarship Program – Patrick Walsh (2012) and Samuel Tonkin (2013) – $10,000
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