Small grants for small communities available

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, reminds all non profit organisations of the second round of small grants on offer by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

Applications from rural communities with a population of 10,000 or less will receive priority.

Dr Sykes said, “This has been a valuable program, and a number of community organisations in the Benalla Electorate have been successful in past rounds with funding made available to Arts for All in Mt Beauty, Kids N Cars at Violet Town & the Albert Heaney Reserve at Lima East”.

The program has been made possible by the support of The R E Ross Trust, The Myer Foundation, The Pratt Foundation, The William Buckland Foundation, Perpetual Trustees, DOTARS, The Sylvia & Charles Viertel Foundation and FRRR.

Dr Sykes said, “On my travels around the electorate I have had many requests for funding. This round of FRRR funding focuses on small communities, and many towns in the Electorate of Benalla are eligible to apply.”

“The total pool of funding is $300,000. Grants of up to $5,000 are being made available to small rural & regional non profit organisations that have projects and activities that aid the sustainability of their community. The program is simple and straight forward with a swift application and approval process,” continued Dr Sykes.

Applications that support the following areas of interest will be given preference:
· Community hardship in drought affected areas;
· Community infrastructure;
· Resettlement of immigrants in rural Australia;
· Retention of young people in rural & regional Australia;

The closing date for this final round of funding for 2006 is Saturday 30 September.

Application forms, guidelines and further information can be obtained from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal website Freecall 1800 170 020 or via email to info@frr.org.au

Application forms are also available by contacting Peta Clark, Grant Researcher, at Bill Sykes’ office on 5762 2100.

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SPORT & RECREATION AWARDS FOR 2006

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, would like to make sport and recreation organisations in the Electorate aware that the 2006 Sport and Recreation Awards are now open for nominations.

Dr Sykes said, “The awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise individuals, organisations, partnerships, teams and clubs that make an outstanding contribution to the Victorian sport, fitness, outdoor recreation and community recreation sectors”.

There is $50,000 in cash prizes to be shared across the following ten categories

· Ministers Award for Lifetime Achievement
· Go for your life Community Participation Award
· Volunteer Involvement Award
· Club and Organisational Management Award
· Young People in Sport Award
· Community Event Award
· Applied Research in Sport and Recreation Science Award
· Sport and Recreation Education Award
· Community Facility Design Award
· Amateurs Achievement Award

Nominations close at 5.00 pm on Wednesday 30 August 2006.

Application forms, guidelines and further information can be obtained from Sport and Recreation Freecall 1300 366 356 or www.sport.vic.gov.au

Nomination forms and booklets are also available by contacting Peta Clark, Grant Researcher, at Bill Sykes’ office on 5762 2100.

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