The Bream Creek Farmers Market Community Garden was first supported by FRRR back in 2012, and for the past few years has grown a variety of fresh produce to sell at the market.

The Committee saw the opportunity to expand operations and produce much larger quantities of Tassie produce, but they knew they needed a more structured approach to planning, infrastructure and management of the Garden.

The Domino's Give for Good program enabled the continued development of the garden with a $5,000 grant in early 2017 to support hiring a paid Coordinator to focus on the management of the operations and volunteers.

The Coordinator used her time to develop the infrastructure of the garden, including working with an irrigation specialist to deliver water to the garden beds in the most effective and efficient way possible; supported the implementation of the recommendations in the professional Permaculture Report; and most importantly, worked to develop a key group of volunteers.

Committee member Elizabeth Knox explained that having a dedicated Coordinator saw the Garden grow from strength to strength.

“Volunteers were offered clear direction as to the tasks required to be undertaken at each working bee and were encouraged to adopt the Garden as their own project. This saw an increase in the number of volunteers,” said Elizabeth.

“The Coordinator was then able to focus on developing a retail arm, and the turnover doubled in the second year and quadrupled in the third year.”

Riding on this success, the Bream Creek Farmers’ Market decided that it would be best if the Garden became its own incorporated association. The profits from the Garden for this past financial year were allocated to that new not-for-profit organisation, now known as the Bream Creek Community Market Garden, to provide seed money for its future growth.

With its clear vision, there will undoubtedly be more branches of success in the future.

A $22,000 Creating Inspiring Rural Community Leadership & Engagement grant funded marketing materials for the launch and implementation of the Border Trust’s Community Fund Program.

Using the grant,which was funded by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, they updated their brand and developed new marketing materials, including a video, and produced a radio commercial to showcase the great work they do in the community.

Glenys Atkins, Executive Officer of the Border Trust explained that since using the new marketing materials the Border Trust has experienced and increase in the number of enquiries.

Community Living & Respite Services Inc. received a $3,250 grant through the Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week program, funded by the Department of Social Services, to produce a video. The video showcased the Murray Tea Rooms in Moama NSW, which supports their clients who have a disability to develop skills and confidence in customer service, retail and hospitality.

Following the launch of the video, other suppliers and volunteers offered their support, including Unilever, who now donates Iced Tea and other products. The video had more than 6,000 views via Facebook, and 150 shares in the eight months after it was first posted!.