Council in generous mood as dozens of community groups benefit from grants

By Murray Silby

Jun 23, 2023

**On board:** Horses for Hope, a counselling service where connections are built between clients and horses, is one of the recipients of a Greater Shepparton City Council Access and Inclusion Grant. Photo by Megan Fisher

Greater Shepparton City Council has distributed more than $100,000 to 33 community groups and businesses through a range of grants programs designed to assist with a variety of goals, from inclusion to sustainability.

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The funds were distributed through the Small Town Festive Decoration, Community Matching, Greater Shepparton Access and Inclusion, Creative City, New Business and Community Sustainability grants programs.

The successful applicants were noted during the council’s June meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Mayor Shane Sali said the list emphasised the breadth of organisations and people who mad up the Greater Shepparton region.

“I think it's a great way of council utilising ratepayer money to support community across a broad range of initiatives,” Cr Sali said.

“One of the key learnings I've had with being on council is that I thought I was in tune with what was going on in our community, but once getting on to council, you see so many special things going on, and that are community driven.”

The successful grant recipients were:

Small Town Festive Decorations Grant Program

Provides communities of less than 10,000 people up to $2000 to install festive decorations for the festive season.

Successful applicants

Bunbartha Recreation Reserve: $1807
Tatura Planning Committee: $1820
Lions Club of Merrigum Incorporated: $2000
Tallygaroopna Men’s Shed Inc: $1170
Lions Club of Toolamba: $2000
Mooroopna Mens Shed: $2000

Total: $10,797

Community Matching Grant Scheme

Supports the development and implementation of community activities and projects, such as revitalising places or building new social connections.

Successful applicants

Nabi Akram Mosque: $5000
Murchison Primary School: $1375
The Goulburn Murray Community Leadership Program Inc: $1200
Goulburn Valley U3A: $3395
Generations Church ACC Inc: $3500
Murchison Community Planning Group: $4500
Generations Op Shop: $2425.15
St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria) Inc: $3670
Kialla Golf Club: $3311.50
Murchison Men's Shed Inc: $4600
Shepparton Riding for the Disabled: $5000

Total: $37,976.65

Greater Shepparton Access and Inclusion Grant

Businesses, community groups and not-for-profit organisations are given assistance to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities and their families.

Successful applicants

Goulburn Valley Woodworkers: $1000

Goulburn Valley Pride Inc: $1000

Toolamba Recreation Reserve and Community Centre Community Asset Committee: $1884

Horses For Hope Limited: $10,000

Total: $13,884

The Creative City Grants Program

In its first year and aims to better support the region’s creative sector.

Successful applicants

Dookie Arts Songwriter Workshops at Dookie Hub: $4600

Tatura Community House Inc Walkway Gallery: $5000

St George’s Road Primary School School Library and Music Mural: $5000

Bruce Archibald Shepparton Jazz Suite Performance: $4235

Total: $18,835

New Business Grant

Provides funding for infrastructure or initiatives supporting the establishment of new businesses in Greater Shepparton’s CBD.

Successful recipient

Escape Smash Play Shepparton: $8500

Community Sustainability Grants Program

Supports sustainability actions within the community in line with the council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

Successful applicants