July 22, 2021

Gunnedah Shire Council has announced more than $47,000 in funding for community and sporting organisations and projects through its annual Section 356 Small Grants Program.

A total of $44,240.77 will go to 16 organisations through the Community and Sports round, and $3,387 has been approved for three organisations through the Access Incentive round.

Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey said Gunnedah Shire Council was proud to be able to make a difference to 19 organisations through the S356 Small Grants program.

“Our community organisations and volunteers play a critical role in making Gunnedah a wonderful community by offering a huge range of services and leisure activities,” Cr Chaffey said. “This program helps support those organisations in the wonderful work they do.

“The 2021-22 Section 356 Small Grants funding will go towards projects as diverse as new barns door for the Emerald Hill Memorial Hall to new rain water tank for the local RSPCA. Organisations as diverse as the Gunnedah and District Aeromodellers Association, Gunnedah Little Athletics and Gunnedah RSL will benefit from this grant funding.”

The Section 356 Small Grant Access Incentives round was part of Council’s Invigorate Gunnedah, a program shaped through community consultation to assist in filling the gaps in Federal and State government support during the pandemic.

The successful applicants for the 2021-22 S356 Small Grants (Community) program are:

• Gunnedah RSPCA - $2127.55 for equipment for the shelter and the supply and installation of a new water tank • Kelvin Hall Inc - $1234.45 for a new commercial fridge and ladder for Kelvin Hall • Breeza Progress Association - $5000 for supply and installation of a new shipping container for village storage • Emerald Hill Hall CWA - $1790 for updates to the CWA Honour Board and Centenary celebration planning • Gunnedah Rural Museum - $2144.22 for purchase of display cases for museum equipment • Ooranga Family Mobile Association - $3000 for 2021 Gunnedah Early Childhood Conference • Emerald Hill Progress Association - $4000 to remove the side wall of Memorial Hall and replace it with two barn doors • Red Chief Local Aboriginal Lands Council - $4210 for infrastructure upgrades to the façade of Red Chief LALC • Mary Ranken Childcare Centre - $1000 for the purchase of a laptop for the centre.

The successful applicants for the 2021-22 S356 Small Grants (Sport) program are:

• Gunnedah Physical Culture Club Inc - $1000 for new signage • Lake Keepit Fishing Club - $1604.55 for outdoor settings for clubhouse verandah • Gunnedah Little Athletics - $3000 for eight-lane wireless gaming gates for track events • Gunnedah Working Dog Club - $2500 for purchase of a set of sheepdog enclosures for competition and training • Gunnedah and District Aeromodellers Association - $3500 for purchase of a shipping container for club storage • Gunnedah Basketball Association - $4130 for key-operated motor for backboards • Curlewis Campdraft Club - $4000 for construction of a an office for the club secretary

The successful applicants for the 2021-22 S356 Small Grants (Access Incentive) program are:

• Christ Church Anglican Church - $1601.25 for a disability ramp to the church • Gunnedah Meals on Wheels - $885.75 for a disability ramp to the front of Meals on Wheels • Gunnedah RSL - $900 for a new compliant disability handrail to the access ramp at the RSL Club. Caption: Recipients of a previous S356 Small Grants round.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.