The inaugural Elders Community Giving Project has been a resounding success, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the health and safety of regional Australian communities.
L-R: Cheryl May, Committee Member at the Parndana Sports Club and Brenton Putland, Territory Sales Manager from Elders Kangaroo Island.
Run in-house by Elders, the Elders Community Giving Project offers grants of up to $20k for grassroots initiatives that will promote sustainable, focused, and long-term change in communities.
In July, Elders announced the 14 recipients of this years' program, all dedicated to supporting the needs of rural and regional communities across Australia.
Amongst these recipients, seven non-for-profit organisations from NSW, Queensland and South Australia fell within the grant pillars of People and Regions, Healthy Bodies and Safety, underscoring our ongoing commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of the communities which we serve.
In NSW, there were two grants falling within these categories. One was awarded to support the development of a community gym in Trundle and the other to enhance water safety education for swim instructors in the greater Tamworth region.
Andrew Rawsthorne, Committee Member of the Trundle War Memorial Hall, expressed how the gym will greatly enhance both mental and physical health in the community, particularly for local farmers, and provide a vital safe space for young people.
“The nearest gym is 60 kilometres away, and the Trundle community has long needed an accessible local facility. Converting the large, unused room at the rear of the hall into a gym was the natural solution,” he said.
L-R Andrew Rawsthorne, Marcus Honorato (Forbes Agronomist), Prue Hain (Forbes Branch Operations Manager), Jake Lebrocque (Forbes Territory Sales Manager), Alex Aveyard (Plevna Merinos), Jenny Callow, Gerry Capell (Trundle Central School), & Boyd Aveyard (Plevna Merinos).
In Queensland two recipients included the non-for-profit GroWQ, which will provide farmer first aid training across western Queensland, and the Belinda McGowan Foundation, set to deliver a cuddle bed to the Barcaldine Multi-Purpose Health Service (Hospital).
Elders Branch Manager Tim Salter is the Elders spokesperson attributed to both grants, and highlighted the inherent importance of both initiatives.
Regarding the farmer first aid initiative Mr Salter stated how access to proper emergency medical training is crucial to improving health outcomes in rural towns.
“Having witnessed the dangers of working in remote areas with livestock and heavy machinery, I am deeply thankful that our community now has access to essential training and resources,” he said.
When discussing the cuddle bed initiative, Mr Salter highlighted its significance for both palliative and aged care patients.
“The Barcaldine Hospital has an inbuilt aged care unit, so the provision of the cuddle bed will be an invaluable resource to service all kinds of patients,” he said.
“It’s a tremendous thing for the community to be provided with the opportunity to receive comfort and closure, during such vulnerable times in their lives.”
Additionally, grants were awarded for defibrillator installation and maintenance at local showgrounds and sports facilities in NSW and SA, including the townships of Dorrigo, Binalong, and Kingscote. These grants are set to enhance community readiness for medical emergencies, potentially saving lives before emergency services arrive.
L-R: Nigel Wong, President of the Binalong Progress Association, Lucy Dwyer, Elders Yass Branch Operations Manager and Belinda Pigram, Grants Officer for the Binalong Progress Association.
Belinda Pigram, Grants Officer for the Binalong Progress Association (pictured to the left), explained how for their township this defibrillator is only one of two available in the township.
“We are immensely thankful for Elders’ generous contribution, which has enabled us to secure this crucial lifesaving equipment,” Ms Pigram stated.
The Elders Community Giving Project will run again in 2025, with applications opening in March for non-for-profit organisations in regional, rural and remote communities.
More information is available on the Elders Community Giving Project webpage.