VOLUNTEERS RECOGNISED DURING VOLUNTEER WEEK

Community organisations throughout the Riverina and Central West have received a boost through the latest round of the Volunteer Grants Program.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said 16 organisations shared more than $56,000 through the annual grants program.

“Volunteers are what makes our regional, rural and remote communities the wonderful places they are to live, work and raise a family,” Mr McCormack said.

“I was delighted to deliver the wonderful news to the successful Volunteer Grants Program recipients in the Riverina electorate during National Volunteer Week.

“Our volunteers do a power of wonderful work to improve our local communities and I thank each and every one of them for their tireless efforts.”

The Volunteer Grants Program provides community organisations with grants of between $1,000 and $5,000, which can be used to buy equipment for use by volunteers, reimburse volunteer fuel costs, meet training costs, transport volunteers with a disability or support promotional activities on volunteering events.

“These grants seem small but they can make such a tangible difference for local volunteer organisations to allow them to continue the invaluable work they do throughout the Riverina and Central West,” Mr McCormack said.

The Riverina Electorate grants were nominated by Mr McCormack following advice from a community consultative committee.

Volunteer Grant Program recipients in the Riverina Electorate

Organisation | Funding amount | Purpose

Ardlethan CanAssist | $1,400 | Purchase gazebos and trestle tables

Barmedman Tennis Association | $5,000 | Purchase defibrillator, gardening equipment and fuel vouchers for volunteers

Coolamon Amateur Swimming Club | $1,700 | Training for five volunteer coaches

Forbes Family History Group | $3,784 | Purchase two computers

Gasworks Motorsport, Illabo | $4,989 | Purchase new colour laser printer, beverage coolers, outdoor gas heaters, 244-piece tool chest kit and assorted power tools and gardening equipment

Grenfell Girl Guides | $4,785 | Attendance of 2023 Jamboree, purchase camping equipment

Gundagai Historical Society | $1,508 | Purchase repair and maintenance equipment. Purchase a sit/stand desk for volunteers to use for sorting, labelling and cleaning donated artefacts

Junee RSL Sub-Branch | $5,000 | Purchase heavy duty marquee with walls and accessories to protect audio-visual equipment during commemorative services

Cootamundra Lions Club | $2,500 | Purchase new equipment and update existing equipment for catering van

Marrar Public School P&C Association | $1,000 | Purchase pop up marquee to be used by P & C when fund-raising

Muttama Creek Landcare Group | $2,930 | Purchase tree planning equipment

Parkes Bowling and Sports Club | $5,000 | Purchase new electric greens lawn mower

The Herd of Hope, Parkes Hospital | $5,000 | Help meet transport costs of volunteers with a disability, fuel costs of volunteers, background screening checks of volunteers

Urangeline Peace Hall | $4,972 | Upgrade electrics in the hall and purchase flood lighting, purchase mobile phones for volunteers

Wagga Wagga Community Media (2AAAFM) | $5,000 | Construction of weather shade over disabled car parking

West Wyalong Hospital Auxiliary | $1,786 | Purchase electronic tablet, contactless chip reader and laptop to provide for EFTPOS at fund-raising events, purchase portable record-keeping equipment

Shane Manning