August 29, 2016
An electrical upgrade at a Kingaroy kindergarten will allow it to improve the quality of teaching.
The $1900 grant from Ergon Energy’s Community Fund enabled St John’s Lutheran Kindergarten to replace old wiring that did not have the capacity to safely cope with the demands of modern teaching environments.
The kindy is situated in an old school building that was converted for use as a preschool more than 20 years ago, so it lacked the capacity to accommodate computers, interactive screens, cooking equipment and the modern technologies necessary in an office.
But that is no longer the case after the electrical upgrade, and students will benefit as the kindy incorporates the latest equipment into its programs.
St John’s kindy was one of 12 not-for-profit community groups across regional Queensland to share about $50,000 in total for projects that promote energy efficiency or electrical safety.
Ergon are now looking for the next round of grant applicants, and have changed the fund’s grant criteria to make more community projects eligible for funding this year.
“We want regional and rural Queensland not-for-profit groups to develop innovative ideas that benefit them and inspire their local community,” an Ergon spokesman said.
“Any project that delivers a lasting benefit to the community will be eligible for a grant between $200 and $5000, with $50,000 in total to be shared.”
Examples of the sort of projects that could attract funding include those that:
- Reduce energy consumption, particularly at peak times, possibly by upgrading equipment to more energy efficient models
- Use or promote renewable energy alternatives (solar, wind, hydro or biomass)
- Keep the community safe around electricity, potentially by a wiring safety check, upgrading a switchboard or installing new electrical wiring
- Educate and empower people to make informed energy choices and help them manage cost of living pressures
- Prepare the community for storm season, for example by preparing storm kits, upgrading first aid equipment or installing a generator with a change-over switch
- Provide some kind of lasting community benefit, such as educating children about sustainable gardening, providing emergency equipment or facility upgrades
- Help grow regional Queensland or create a more sustainable community
Grant applications for the next round of Ergon Energy’s Community Fund close at 5:00pm on Monday, September 12.
For more details, visit the Ergon Energy website
