Published on Thursday, 15 October 2020 at 2:43:02 PM
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the Shire of Narrogin increased the Community Chest Fund grant pool to $100,000 and the limit on individual applications was increased up to a maximum $5,000 cash or in-kind support.
The Shire of Narrogin’s Community Chest Grants 2020/2021 (Round 1) closed on 31 August 2020 and attracted an unprecedented seventeen applications seeking funding support totalling more than $70,000 for a range of projects including a new refrigerator, shade structures and several events.
At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 22 September 2020, applications to the value of $41,510.83 were supported. Some requests will be supported with cash sponsorship from the Shire’s annual Events Budget.
The successful applicants are:
Narrogin Menshed
The Menshed requested $3,849 to purchase a much needed new fridge, and a vehicle hoist for a bold new project that will enable members of the community to use the hoist, for a small fee, to effect minor vehicle repairs and maintenance.
Narrogin Cottage Homes
Narrogin Cottage Homes requested $5,000 to provide governance training for its volunteer Board members. The Board is responsible for the overall governance, management and strategic direction of the organisation and for delivering accountable corporate performance in accordance with the organisation’s goals and objectives. It is vital that board members are given the tools to be able to perform this role effectively. Chief Executive Officer, Sharon Bryce said ‘’I would like the community to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that the Board at NCH have taken on. One of the issues that we have faced this year is the lack of training for board members .The NCH board members have actively and physically participated in all aspects of our service which in its self is rare. These wonderful board members have given their own time and expertise to ensure that NCH remains a service that we are proud off. To be able to offer training to all board members will give the Board the skills and knowledge required to offer optimum services’’.
Narrogin Croquet Club
The Croquet Club sought $2,248 towards the ongoing upgrade of the Clubrooms as they prepare for their 100th Anniversary in November 2024. The Community Chest funds will be used to purchaser a new oven, rangehood and floor coverings. These improvements will ensure the Club can efficiently cater for future events in a kitchen that meets commercial requirements. President Ellen Sprigg said ‘’ On behalf of the members of the Narrogin Croquet Club we would like to express our appreciation for ongoing support from the Narrogin Shire with our successful application for Community Chest. We will make good use of this to upgrade our original clubrooms enabling us to welcome an increase in membership and open our facilities to visiting clubs. Our centenary is coming up 1924 – 2024 by planning ahead we will continue to improve our clubrooms, facilities and surrounds’’.
Highbury District Community Council
The Highbury Hall is located on Burley Street, Highbury and is available for hire for functions and events. The facility is managed by the lessee, the Highbury District Community Council. The leased premises comprises Highbury Hall including Wilbur Park and the Anzac memorial, and the toilets. The lessee requested $4,213.83 to undertake modifications to the toilets including painting and improved external doors to reduce the occurrence of windblown rubbish inside.
Narrogin Revheads
Annually the Narrogin Revheads association coordinates the hugely successful Revheads event from which the proceeds of the event are donated to the Narrogin community to support worthwhile projects such as the Community Assisted Transport vehicle. The grant of $2,500 to purchase shade marquees will save the organisation several thousand dollars in hire costs each year
Narrogin Gymnastics Club
The approved grant for $5,000 will go towards the cost to purchase new under beam safety flooring and will hail the completion of staged upgrades undertaken by the Club in recent years. The flooring is necessary to reduce the incidence of injuries in gymnasts. Narrogin Gymnastics Club Head Coach Paula Raworth said.’’So grateful to the Narrogin Shire for their contribution towards our new safety flooring! It has been on our to do list for many years and we can finally follow through with this to reduce the incidences of trips and falls for both our gym kids and our coaches’’.
Avon Community Services
Avon Community Services sought $2,500 towards the delivery costs of the Essential Skills Program. This program will run over eight weeks and serves to introduce young people to basic vehicle maintenance and will cover the cost of car parts such as batteries, spark plugs and oils and coolants. The program also teaches young people essential skills such as sewing, budgeting and planning an event for their families at conclusion of the program. Avon Community Services Youth Worker Karen Walker said ‘’ Thank You to the Shire of Narrogin for allowing Avon Youth to deliver this Essential Skills program. Avon Youth aims to enhance and educate the Youth and through the delivery of this program we hope to achieve a positive and confident outcome’’.
Rotary Club
The Rotary Club identified a need for a consistent method of displaying house numbers to assist emergency services such St John Ambulance to efficiently locate properties in the dark. The Club sought $5,000 towards the total cost of $30,000 to engage a contractor to apply reflective house numbers on the kerbs.
Narrogin Primary School P&C
Narrogin Primary School students were rehearsed and ready to travel to Perth for the annual One Big Voice event, but due to the restrictions resulting from the Covid crisis, were unable to go. So the ever resourceful P&C requested $5,000 to help stage the Narrogin Voice Festival on the oval at the Narrogin Primary School. A spokesperson for the Narrogin Primary School P & C noted, ‘’The P&C is proud to be involved with the staging of the Narrogin Voice Festival featuring school children from our region in a massed choir. The kids were robbed of the opportunity to perform at the annual One Big Voice Concert in Perth due to Covid 19 and now thanks to the generosity and foresight of the Shire of Narrogin these lucky kids and other talented musical artists will have a platform to perform live’’.
Narrogin Agricultural Society
Following the cancellation of the 2020 Narrogin Agricultural Show, the Agricultural Society saw an opportunity to keep their event coordination skills sharp, with an application for $4,000 to deliver an outdoor community event in February 2021. The event will be held at the Narrogin Recreation Centre and will be a family fun day out with giant inflatables and lawn games, free entry to the pool and a sausage sizzle. President of the Narrogin Agricultural Society, Vicki Chadwick said ‘’It is great that the Narrogin Agricultural Society & the Shire Council are working together for the official opening of the Community Open Park’’.
Shire President Leigh Ballard said ‘’We have been really impressed with the diverse range of proposed projects and events, and we look forward to seeing these over the coming months. Thank you to all the applicants for your initiative and enthusiasm to help our community recover in the wake of COVID-19’’
Round 2 of the Community Chest Fund Grants will open on 1 February 2021 with a total grant pool of more than $40,000 available. Eligible
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