Forrest PS to grow kitchen garden further with grant

FORREST Primary School is among 32 community groups in rural Victoria to be awarded a grant in the latest round of the Strengthening Rural Communities program from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

Awarded via three streams of funding – small and vital projects, COVID recovery and disaster preparednes – the grants are going toward initiatives that address a variety of diverse needs and local priorities, including infrastructure upgrades, strengthening resilience, addressing service gaps and growing networks.

In the Rebuilding Regional Communities – Micro category, Forrest Primary School received just over $5,000 for its kitchen garden project.

This aims to build community connections and improve resilience post-COVID-19 through establishing an inclusive kitchen facility and cooking program to complement an existing community garden.

Other supported projects in the more than $1.5 million handed out in round 19 range include a winter care program that will see support packs delivered to elderly residents of St Arnaud, Victoria; a series of emergency bushfire preparedness workshops for the community of Batlow, NSW, and helping install silo art in Lameroo, South Australia as a way to reinvigorate tourism and enhance local sense of identity following the pandemic.

FRRR place portfolio lead Jill Karena said the diversity of requests again highlighted the importance of having a small grants program such as SRC.

“The needs of remote, rural and regional communities differ, so it’s critical to be able to offer flexible funding like we do through this small grants program.

“It means that local groups can respond to local priorities in their communities.

“This round, projects ranged from domestic violence support and mentoring programs, to food security and tourism initiatives to help rebuild the local economy.

“There was really strong demand for support to enhance community infrastructure, particularly maintaining meeting places so people can come together and strengthen local connections, but we also saw a significant number of requests relating to increasing the reach and emergency communications capability of groups like community radio stations.”

FRRR always accepts applications to this program, which awards funds around four times a year.

Local not-for-profit organisations and community groups are encouraged to review the program guidelines and apply.

For more information about the SRC program, head to frrr.org.au/src