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Small Grants continue to grow and grow.

22 May 2003

Australia’s only national foundation dedicated to the needs of rural and regional Australia FRRR -The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, has launched into it’s third round of the highly sought after Small Grants for Small Rural Communities Program. (click here for a list of successful applicants)

Over 250 applications were received from organisations across the country totalling just under $1 million worth of requests from rural and remote Australian communities. With so many applications received the competition for funding was extremely intense.

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

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. A great number of exciting and worthwhile projects were received but one of the most innovative projects came from a small community in Queensland with a population of just 450 people. The Bauple State School has set up an enterprise project for the students to manufacture candy coated macadamia nuts. The profit will be reinvested in the development and expansion of the business.

Principle of the Bauple State School Mr Matt Dyer said that ‘We were thrilled to gain support for our project given the intense competition for FRRR funding under the Small Grants Program. Families have obviously suffered since the closure of the plant that previously manufactured the Macadamia Nuts here in Bauple. With this new found support the children, families and community of Bauple can again look forward to the exciting prospects this project brings.’

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