2015 archived FRRR Media Releases

FRRR today announced that three grant programs have opened up, ahead of the end of year break: The Small Grants for Rural Communities, Rural Education Australia Program and the McEwen Foundation Goulburn Valley grant programs.

FRRR is partnering with the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund to deliver SSE's Social Change 101 program in three regions that were impacted by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Social Change 101 provides an opportunity for local change-makers to learn from their community's leading business and social enterprise experts to gain the skills, knowledge and networks to bring their social enterprise idea to life for the broader benefit of their community.The four-month program will equip 14 local change-makers with the skills and resources needed to establish and run successful social businesses, and make a great contribution to their community. There will be two further programs in fire-impacted regions in 2017. Locations will be determined by greatest demand and community engagement with the Social Change 101 program. Register your interest for a program in your area.

The Board today announced that Natalie Egleton has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of FRRR.

In partnership with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, FRRR is supporting 25 projects that contribute to the long-term recovery from the 2009 bushfires. The grant funds are via the Grants for Resilience&Wellness program and the new Community Group Futures program.

Darkan Music and Drama Club used a $2,500 Small Grant for Rural Communities to purchase a portable stage, taking their show on the road has had a positive effect on the community, engaged a wide age group and encouraged young people to join and become involved in theatre.

As part of the Creating Inspiring Rural Leadership and Engagement (CIRCLE) program, FRRR commissioned a review of rural, regional and remote leadership programs being delivered across Australia. The report was prepared by Andrew Huffer and Associates (AH&A) with the aim of facilitating stronger leadership programs and reducing barriers to participation. The report contains seven key findings and recommendations (p.25), which will be of particular interest to organisations that manage leadership programs or who have an interest in building capacity in rural communities.

FRRR's Annual Review has just been published. The 2014/15 Annual Review celebrates 15 years of FRRR championing rural, regional and remote communities through partnerships with the private sector, philanthropy and government. The Review looks back on the impact of the organisation, and reports on our activities for the 2014/15 financial year, including record funds received and grants awarded. The full report and an online summary are available.

In this edition of eNews, we farewell outgoing CEO, Alexandra Gartmann and welcome some new faces to the FRRR team. We celebrate the announcement of Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week (CPPW) grants, as well as the recipients of 2015 Culture, Arts, Tourism and Community Heritage (CATCH) grants. We talk about FRRR's involvement in the inaugural Philanthropy Meets Parliament Summit in Canberra, plus we launch FRRR's first ever podcast about how some communitites are using their Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) grants to make a real difference in drought-affected areas.

The Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce used a $5,000 ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant to run workshops with the local community to generate ideas on revitalising the shire. One of the results was creating mosaic artwork along Mercer Lane.

To coincide with Mental Health Week, our first podcast looks at the remote community health projects that are improving physical and mental wellbeing, as well as building stronger connections for people in isolated locations. Speaking to GLENRAC Project Manager Pamela Benton and Windorah Police Officer Paul Jackson, they discuss the benefits of fitness projects in their communities. This episode also includes the special commentary of Alison Fairleigh from the Mental Health Fellowship in North Queensland. To be notified of new podcasts, be sure to follow us on SoundCloud, just like you would do on Facebook.

Dairy Australia's LEGENDAIRY capital of Australia has been announced - Stanhope, in the Murray dairy region of northern Victoria. The LEGENDAIRY awards acknowledge the nation's most vibrant and resilient dairy communities and also involve a grants program. Stanhope, along with seven other dairy regions, received $2,500 grants to invest in community projects. Stanhope will also receive a further $7,500 in funding - congratulations Stanhope and all finalists. FRRR assisted in assessing the applications.

FRRR announces the recipients of the 2015 FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants. Based on eight ideas developed by young people at the 2015 Heywire Regional Youth Summit, 15 community groups will receive a share of $125,394 to implement projects to benefit their community in rural, regional and remote Australia.

FRRR Chairman, Ian Sinclair, announces CEO Alexandra Gartmann will be leaving FRRR for a new role at Rural Bank in early October 2015.

FRRR launch three new programs to support communities that were affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires, funded by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. The School and Beyond, Community Group Futures and Stronger Community Foundations programs will help address the changing and continued needs of these communities and areas.

FRRR's Caring for Ageing Rural Australians (CARA) grant program is now open, with more than $480,000 available to support older people living in small rural, regional and remote communities.

FRRR and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development today announced the recipients of the Creating Inspired Rural Leadership and Engagement (CIRCLE) grants.

Communities affected by disasters up and down the East Coast during 2013 have today received more than $135,000 in grants to help rejuvenate the communities and continue the long journey to recovery. Projects include developing a strategy to build economic resilience, acquiring audio / visual equipment to communicate with large audiences during emergencies, refurbishing halls used for disaster information sessions, running workshops for mental wellness support and ensuring a significant historical collection survives future disasters.

More community groups will benefit from the latest funding from the Foundation for Rural&Regional Renewal's Grants for Resilience and Wellness (GR&W) program, which supports affected communities in their ongoing recovery from the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Five community groups will share $59,103 to implement their projects thanks to FRRR's funding partner, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.

In this edition of eNews, we launch two grant programs, share seven grants in action stories from across the country, and an inspirational case study about building a strong local leadership cohort. All this and more!

FRRR will soon be assessing applications for a new grant program that launches this week.Dairy Australia's LEGENDAIRY initiative aims to celebrate and showcase Australia's most vibrant regional communities, through the inaugural search for Australia's LEGENDAIRY Capital.

Annabel Dulhunty and Annie Grindrod have joined the Board of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Both directors bring a wealth of experience in philanthropy and in the issues facing rural, regional and remote Australians. Their appointments were confirmed at the most recent FRRR board meeting.

More than $470,000 will be shared by 13 projects in the Hunter New England, Central Coast and the mid North Coast regions of NSW, through the Innovation for Community Impact (I4CI) program.Developed by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and Philanthropy Australia and funded by NSW Department of Family and Community Services in partnership with a number of private donors, I4CI aims to create sustainable social change.

The next webinar in the CIRCLE series is on Thursday 16 April 2015 at 1.30pm AEST. Hear tips from FRRR CEO, Alexandra Gartmann, and Andrew Huffer, an experienced leadership consultant, about how to implement long-lasting leadership outcomes in your community group.

The third webinar in the Creating Inspiring Rural Community Leadership&Engagement (CIRCLE) program looked at how community groups can maintain their momentum and continue to succeed and stay relevant.

In the first edition of eNews for 2015, we announce more than $1.5million in grants are available and launch the 2013/14 Annual Review. We also profile a number of projects from around Australia that have been completed with just a little help from FRRR. There are also some handy sources of information re demographics to strengthen your application.

Gardiner Dairy Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) are pleased to announce the 2015 Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants Program is now open. There is $100,000 in grants available.

One hundred and thirty-four communities will share in $454,289 in grants for projects designed to enhance their communities. The collaboratively funded Small Grants for Rural Communities program provides grants of up to $5,000 and has a particular focus on communities with a population of few than 10,000.