$53,000 in Federal funds handed to Hawkesbury groups under latest Volunteer Grants round

Some 28 volunteer-run Hawkesbury groups are benefiting from injections of cash ranging from $1000 to $3000 in the latest round of federal government funding under the Volunteer Grants scheme.

The largest amount in this round – $3000 – goes to the North Richmond Mad Mob Aboriginal Corporation, with Friends of the Colo getting $2800, Pitt Town Progress Association and Vines Pony Club both picking up $2600, and Hawkesbury Community Kitchen and the Community Defib Project in Lower Macdonald each scoring $2500 each.

The other volunteer groups received between $1000 and $2000 each – full list below.

The funding boost, which is part of the federal government’s $20 million Volunteer Grants round, will be used to help local organisations buy small equipment for use by volunteers, reimburse volunteer fuel costs, training costs and transport of volunteers with a disability, or support promotional activities on volunteering opportunities within their organisation.

Macquarie MP Susan Templeman, whose office alerts Hawkesbury community groups, takes expressions of interest, and then nominates groups after a community consultative panel assesses them, said, “it’s wonderful to see 75 organisations across the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury receive some much-needed funds.”

“My team works really hard to support organisations with the applications and get them to the government for approval, and I was very pleased to be able to nominate such a diverse array of groups in 2021.

“Although these grants are only available between $1000 and $5000, they fund really important equipment and activities that encourage and support volunteering in our community, including making volunteering more accessible for people with disabilities,” Ms Templeman said.

Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Marise Payne, who announced the latest round of funding, said volunteers were part of the lifeblood of the Hawkesbury community.

“Unfortunately, Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, especially seniors. Our community organisations…do fantastic work in making sure locals have every opportunity to enjoy this time of year,” Senator Payne said.

“Not only that, volunteers have gone above and beyond during the pandemic to provide vital support for vulnerable Australians, and the federal government is very pleased to back them in with this funding opportunity.”

Ms Templeman said the funds would go a long way to helping the volunteer groups.

“From a Rural Fire Service brigade to sports clubs, a veterans’ association to dedicated community groups like Rotary and Lions clubs, I know these small amounts of assistance will go a long way towards helping our wonderful community groups do their work – particularly in what has been such a tough 18 months to try and conduct fundraising activities,” said the MP.

Across Australia, more than 8.7 million volunteers give their time freely to support their communities, representing an economic contribution of around $290 billion each year.

“I’d like to encourage any other organisations that would like a heads-up about future grants to sign up to my grants newsletter via susantempleman.com.au, or email me susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au and my office will add you to the list,” said Ms Templeman.

Here’s the full list of Hawkesbury recipients:

Blaxland Ridge Rural Fire Brigade – $1000

Colo Shire Family History Group – $1000

Community Defib Project – Central Macdonald – $2500

Ebenezer Public School Parents and Citizens Association – $1700

Freemans Reach Cricket Club Incorporated – $2000

Friends of the Colo – $2800

Glossodia Football Club – $1000

Hawkesbury Australian Football Club – $2000

Hawkesbury Baseball Club – $2000

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association Inc – $1000

Hawkesbury City Athletics Centre – $2000

Hawkesbury Community Kitchen – $2500

Hawkesbury District Cricket Umpires Association Inc – $1000

Hawkesbury Remakery Ltd Windsor – $1125

Hawkesbury Riding Club – $2000

Hawkesbury Valley Rugby Club – $1500

Kurrajong Bilpin Little Athletics Centre – $2000

Kurrajong East Public School P&C Association – $2000

Kurrajong Heights Bowling & Recreation Club – $2000

Lowland Wanderers Soccer Club – $2000

Mad Mob Aboriginal Corporation North Richmond – $3000

The Pitt Town & District Sports Club – $2000

Pitt Town Progress Association – $2600

Richmond Ex-servicemens Soccer Club – $2000

Rotary Club of Kurrajong North Richmond – $1500

The Australiana Pioneer Village – $2000

Henry Doubleday Research Association of Australia – $2000

Vines Pony Club – $2600

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