Elders is delighted to announce the recipients of 13 grants awarded under its Community Giving Project.
Elders Cleve Retail Manager Cody Pahl and Treasurer of the Arno Bay Community Sporting Association Hannah Lienert-Forrest holding a giant cheque after receiving a grant through Elders Community Giving Project.
Now in its third year, the Community Giving Project offers grants of up to $20,000 for initiatives that will promote sustainable and long-term impact in rural and regional communities.
One of this year’s recipients is the Arno Bay Community Sporting Association based on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. The Association will use the funding to establish a fully equipped community gym, servicing Arno Bay, Cleve, Port Neill and surrounding districts. The community gym will address a significant gap in local health and wellbeing infrastructure, with no accessible indoor fitness facility currently available in the region.
Treasurer of the Arno Bay Community Sporting Association Hannah Lienert-Forrest said the facility will improve physical health, support mental wellbeing, reduce social isolation and strengthen community resilience.
“Residents in Arno Bay and surrounding communities face significant barriers to accessing health and wellbeing services, including long travel distances, limited local infrastructure, and increasing financial pressures. There is currently no local indoor fitness facility, reducing opportunities for regular physical activity, particularly during extreme weather or peak farming periods,” Ms Lienert-Forrest said.
“This project addresses these barriers by providing a local, affordable, and accessible gym within an existing community space. By removing travel and cost barriers, the initiative will enable more residents to engage in regular exercise, which is proven to improve physical health, reduce stress, and strengthen mental wellbeing.
“Support from Elders will play a key role in bringing this initiative to life, helping to strengthen the health, resilience, and liveability of our rural community.”
With hundreds of applications again received from right around Australia, Elders Managing Director and CEO Mark Allison said the program continues to uncover and support initiatives making a difference in local communities.
“Elders has been part of regional Australia for generations, and the Community Giving Project is one way we can give back to the communities in which we live and work,” Mr Allison said.
"Every year we are inspired by the calibre of applications we receive. They reflect the passion and innovation that exists right across regional Australia.
“We firmly believe that the best ideas for rural Australia come from rural Australia. The recipients announced today are outstanding examples of what can be achieved when communities come together and we are proud to help bring these ideas to life.”
Congratulations to the 2026 recipients
| Pillar | Organisation | Location | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encouraging and celebrating diversity | Rainbow Roos AU Inc | Lismore, NSW | Inclusive Community Connection and Play Space |
| Encouraging and celebrating diversity | Mill House | Maryborough, Vic | Grow, Cook, Share: An Inclusive Community Greenhouse Project |
| Environmental awareness | Save Our Bees | Jiggi, NSW | Northern Rivers Pollinator Rebuild Pilot |
| Environmental awareness | Adaminaby P&C Association | Adaminaby, NSW | Increasing water efficiency and drought resilience in the Adaminaby Public School grounds |
| Innovation into the future | Stronach View Farm - Scottsdale High School Association | Scottsdale, Tas | Stronach View Farm: Next-Gen Beef Management |
| Safety first | Narrogin Rotary Club Inc | Narrogin, WA | First Aid Kits for Young Drivers |
| Safety first | Community Hub Inc | Colac, Vic | New L2P Car 2026 |
| Healthy bodies, healthy minds | It's Our Community - Pantry Inc | New Norfolk, Tas | Derwent Valley Food Rescue & Fresh Access Expansion Project |
| Healthy bodies, healthy minds | Arno Bay Community Sporting Association Incorporated | Arno Bay, SA | Stronger Together: Arno Bay Community Gym |
| Regional skills & workforce development | Outback Instincts Ltd | Goombungee, Qld | Safe Livestock Handling & Youth Rural Skills Infrastructure Project |
| People’s choice | Boab Health Services | Broome, WA | Little Feet, Big Steps |
| People’s choice | Hallett Community and Sports Association | Hallett, SA | Hallett Community Park and Playground Total Inclusion Project |
| People’s choice | Glenreagh Country Women’s Association | Glenreagh, NSW | Kitchen refit |
The Elders Community Giving Project will run again for the fourth year in 2027, with applications opening in March.