October 12, 2022
Twenty-three community groups will share $29,349 in grants from the latest round of South Burnett Regional Council’s Community Grants program.
At Wednesday’s Liveability standing committee meeting, Cr Danita Potter said Council had received 40 applications requesting almost $75,616 in funding.
Successful grant recipients were:
Australia Day/Anzac Day Funding
- Hivesville Progress Association – $1000
- Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA) – $1000
- Kumbia and District Memorial School of Arts Inc – $1000
Community Hall Insurance
- Mondure Public Hall Committee – $1000
- Wooroolin Community Committee – $1000
- Ironpot Farmers Hall Committee – $1000
Community Sponsorship
- Wondai Proston Wolves RLFC – $1500 (upgrade canteen facilities)
- Rotary Club of Murgon – $1500 (Murgon Music Muster)
- Eva’s Place Pregnancy and Early Learning Support Inc – $1499 (expanded mentoring program)
- South Burnett Gem and Fossicking Club Inc – $1600 (2023 South Burnett Gem Show)
- Nanango RSL Sub-Branch Inc – $1500 (desktop PC and software for memorabilia officer)
- South Burnett Peace Of Mind – $1476 (White Dove Ball)
- Nanango and District Netball Association – $1500 (new commercial refrigerator)
- Barambah Ministers’ Association – $1000 (Murgon Community Christmas Carols)
- Nanango Community Men’s Shed – $1372 (defibrillator)
- Kingaroy and District Ministry Association – $2000 (Kingaroy Christmas Carols)
- Kumbia and District Memorial School of Arts Inc – $1000 (Kumbia Christmas Carnival)
- Proston and District Heritage Association – $3000 (Centenary book publication)
- Veterans Motorcycle Club West Qld Chapter Inc – $667 (office upgrade)
- Queensland Dairy and Heritage Museum Inc – $598 (office replacement items)
- Kingaroy Men’s Shed Inc – $1381 (tools for Men’s Shed)
- Blackbutt-Benarkin Lions Club – $1600 (Lions Community Christmas Carols)
- Creative Country Association Inc – $1656 (Spruce it up)
Applications for the next round of the twice-yearly community grants program will be accepted in February next year.
Eligibility guidelines are available on the Council’s website.
Sorry, but I can’t agree with our council policy of giving money taken, from ratepayers, to organisations like RSL clubs that have poker machines that probably earn them heaps of money. Rates should be used from roads and council services not sporting groups and clubs like a Gem and Fossicking Club. Give me a break. To me it’s just wasting the money. What percentage of ratepayers would make use of these clubs. If clubs wish to operate they should charge membership fees that cover their expenses, not beg for grants from the council.
Maybe I’m just a stingy old scrooge but I’d be willing to bet that if it were put to a referendum at the next polls a majority of ratepayers would say no to diverting ratepayer monies from council service to clubs etc.
Council already wastes millions on so-called town improvements. I was in Kingaroy last Monday trying to find a parking spot near the council office. Just drove round and round. What a mess the town is now. It’s not friendly to senior citizens who may find it a struggle to walk a few kilometres but aren’t eligible for a disability sticker for their car. Maybe they can park at Shoppingworld and get an Uber or taxi. Thanks council.
To be fair, Bouncer, the council grant was to the Nanango RSL Sub-Branch, which looks after former Defence Force personnel and war veterans, not the RSL Club.
Clubs and volunteer groups are the backbone of every community in the South Burnett. They keep our halls, sporting fields and other public assets in good order; they help organise and run important celebrations like Australia Day,. Anzac Day and Christmas carnivals; they bring tourists to our region with anything from multi-day sports carnivals to big public festivals like Avofest and BaconFest; and they fill vital gaps in public services through such things as rural fire brigades, SES groups and ambulance committees (to name just a few).
Collectively, these volunteer groups save ratepayers much, much more than they cost and provide the cement that holds many towns together.