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Central Highlands Broadcasts ‘Youth Training’

22 May 2003

Unlike many country towns around Australia the township of Kyneton, located in the Central Highlands of Victoria is currently experiencing rapid growth and with that population boom the community spirit has been rejuvenated, creating some wonderful ideas and opportunities. One such idea has captured the attention of Australia’s only national philanthropic foundation dedicated to rural and regional Australia, FRRR – The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.

Over 250 applications totalling just under $1 million worth of requests from rural and remote Australian communities were submitted to FRRR in the most recent funding round of Small Grants for Small Rural Communities. As Australia’s only national foundation dedicated to the needs of rural and regional Australia many community based organisations across the country are now turning to the young and innovative Foundation for assistance.

Central Highlands Broadcasting Incorporated was one of the organisations to be successful in attaining funding from the highly sought after Small Grants Funding. The support from FRRR will enable the Station to purchase the equipment to offer a ‘Training’ radio studio, for people of all ages, including the towns young, aged and disabled community members. This type of facility has never been offered to the local Kyneton Community before and the committee believes that, on a local level, this project will ‘bring together’ the many diverse aspects of the community.

According to Ms Jacqui Mott, President of Central Highlands Broadcasting Incorporated, this funding is an important boost for a small team of volunteers working towards the station’s future development.

“FRRR’s announcement has been enthusiastically received by 100.7 Highlands FM, and the funds are aimed at creating a computer for radio program automation, to enable us to prerecord segments and train new presenters – especially community members who may not have access to radio facilities.

“It’s great news!” she said.

FRRR CEO Ms Sylvia Admans said that ‘It has become clearly evident that there are many communities across Australia in desperate need of support. FRRR’s Small Grants Program provides the assistance that many of these communities have been previously unable to access.’ The themes that have emerged from this round of funding include support for;

  • Community Buildings and Halls
  • Community Radio Stations
  • Information technology and communications
  • Indigenous communities
  • Rural Education

A great number of exciting and worthwhile projects were supported. Communities from as far north as Aurukun on the tip of Cape York across to Derby in Western Australia and as far south as The Furneaux Islands were successful in attaining funding this round.

The collaborative approach for funding Small Grants is designed to: make better, targeted use of funds improving access for rural and regional communities; provide a simpler application process, and enhance efficiency and effectiveness for philanthropic trusts and foundations who wish to support small communities. FRRR gratefully acknowledges the support of current funding partners The Myer Foundation, Perpetual Trustees, RE Ross Trust, the William Buckland Foundation and The Pratt Foundation.

Natalie Elliott, Marketing Manager FRRR 03) 5443 7300 or natalie@frrr.org.au top