GrainCorp has awarded more than $166,000 in funding to community groups across the east coast of Australia to kickstart support efforts for 2022.
The GrainCorp Community Foundation chose 20 community projects to support in this round of grant funding, from an upgrade to a sporting club’s kitchen facilities to purchasing a defibrillator for a community services group.
The GrainCorp Grants program provides financial support to organisations and projects that have a positive economic, social and cultural impact, with two funding rounds held per year in February and July.
“Rural and regional communities are working through the effects of natural disasters and the pandemic, so we looked for projects that will have a positive, long-term impact.
Kyle Docherty, GrainCorp Community Engagement Manager
“That’s why we’ve chosen projects that will have beneficial outcomes across a range of areas, including health and safety, wellbeing, education, sustainability and sport and recreation,” said Kyle.
“We look forward to helping to bring these to life and continuing our support for growers and their communities into the future.”
Connecting the community
Quambone Resources Committee, based in the Coonamble Shire in NSW, received funding for the resurfacing of the Quambone Tennis Courts (below).
Treasurer Margaret Garnsey said the courts were in desperate need of improvement due to prolonged drought eroding the surfaces.
“Quambone is a wonderfully active community, particularly when it comes to sport, but unfortunately, we were hit hard by the drought.
“The courts at the local tennis club were neglected and coupled with erosion from a lack of vegetation, became almost un-playable.
“Thanks to GrainCorp’s support, we can now upgrade the playing surface and restore vegetation around the courts to get them back to their full playing capacity.
“I’m a strong believer that the resilience of a community derives from the capacity of its residents to participate and having nice, fully playable tennis courts will go a long way in supporting that.”
Margaret Garnsey, Quambone Resources Committee (pictured)
Creating a sensory green space
Meanwhile in Emerald, Queensland, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School received funding for its green space garden project.
Samantha Elsden, who’s on the school board and has a child at the school, partnered up with another parent and staff member Laura Clarke, to develop a green space project that will provide an outdoor living classroom for students and strengthen ties between the school and community.
“We’re thrilled GrainCorp is supporting our vision to create a garden that will enable children to learn more about agriculture, food security and food production, while providing them with a sensory green space,” she said.
“Our aim is to ‘share’ the garden with the wider community, including a local community and disability services centre, and once we’re ‘harvesting’ our produce we can get the school involved with the local farmers’ markets.
“GrainCorp was a natural fit for us; not only do many of our kids have farming ties, but our project’s focus on education, sustainability and community are all key elements of their Foundation.”
List of GrainCorp Community Grant recipients (February 2022)
| Organisation | Project/Program | Location |
| Gunnedah Junior Rugby Club | Installation of a new storage facility | Gunnedah, NSW |
| Barooga Football Netball Club | Netball clubroom upgrade | Barooga, NSW |
| Devenish Public Hall Committee of Management | Installation of public bathroom facility | Devenish, VIC |
| Nhill & District Sporting Club | Equipment shed upgrade | Nhill, VIC |
| North Star Sporting Club | Upgrade of kitchen facilities | North Star, NSW |
| Quambone Resources Committee | Tennis court refurbishment | Quambone, NSW |
| Rotary Club of Numurkah | Disability and aged care community bus | Numurkah, VIC |
| Southern Mallee Giants Football Netball Club | Netball facility upgrade | Hopetoun, VIC |
| St. Patrick’s Primary School | ‘The Patch’ Garden Project | Emerald, QLD |
| Toobeah Kindergarten Association | Replacement of disability access ramp | Toobeah, QLD |
| Willow Tree Bowling Club | Tennis court replacement due to corella damage | Willow Tree, NSW |
| Goondiwindi and District Cricket Association | Irrigation improvements | Goondiwindi, QLD |
| Boolite Public Hall & Recreation Reserve | Replacement of public bathrooms | Boolite, VIC |
| Jerilderie Preschool Kindergarten | Centre internal fit out | Jerilderie, NSW |
| Amy Hurd Early Learning Centre | Garden centre revamp | Wagga Wagga, NSW |
| Boonwurrung Ngargee Youth Dance Group | Boonwurrung Ngargee Dance Program | West Footscray, VIC |
| The Pastoral & Agricultural Society of Deniliquin | New equipment for equestrian events | Deniliquin, NSW |
| Manildra Preschool Early Learning Centre | Outdoor education program | Manildra, NSW |
| Gunnedah Family & Community Services | To provide access to a public AED (defibrillator) | Gunnedah, NSW |
| Murtoa College | Murtoa College Breakfast Club | Murtoa, VIC |
The second funding round for the GrainCorp Community Grants program will open on 1 July 2022.
