Community & Business
13 July, 2024
Groups celebrate grant funds
LOCAL groups and sporting clubs across the region were the recipients of nearly $500,000 in grants that will allow them to reinvigorate their spaces, thanks to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
One of the lucky recipients is the Chillagoe Caving Club who got $13,237 to construct a shed roof and purchase a water softening system - features that will help the club immensely.
Club vice-president Paul Osborne is grateful for the grant which will be used to revamp the roofing of the club’s barbecue area and install a water softening system.
For a town with “hard water” and a history of water restrictions, a water softening system will allow the operation to cut down on maintenance costs and run more self-sufficiently.
“Anything that’s connected to the water supply calcifies up and it causes incredible plumbing problems,” Paul said.
“We’ve been trying to overcome this for a long time and there’s no plumbers in Chillagoe, so anytime we need a plumber we have to get them from either Mareeba or Dimbulah.”
The club anticipates having the new system in place in the next few months.
Back in February, as the Butchers Creek Hall geared up to celebrate its 100th anniversary, two of its fridges broke. The community rallied and a fridge was loaned out, but now they can replace the item thanks to a $4,179 which they intend to use on new fridges, safety mats behind the bar, and eskys for their events.
“Our grant project is not as exciting as a new extension or big upgrade, but it is very important to the hall and will address an area of need for our committee and those who hire the hall,” a spokesperson from the Butchers Creek Committee said.
Lights will be upgraded at the Atherton Football Club with its grant for $34,954, which will give the club the opportunity to work towards becoming a “premier club”.
Some fixtures are failing due to age, some due to water damage, others due to damage from wildlife.
“It’s a hard thing to fundraise for. It’s something we’ve been trying to do as a committee and a club for years,” club president Jason Cummings said.
“This is going to be really, really helpful. It’s quite an expensive exercise,” he said.
Other clubs who were successful were the Ravenshoe & District Junior Rugby League Club ($26,368) for a mower, scoreboard and equipment; the Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club ($34,070) for a mower and to upgrade a bathroom; the FNQ Sports and Pistol Club at Mt Molloy ($34,094) for a shed and equipment; Millaa Millaa State School P&C ($35,000) for Stage 1 of a playground; Mt Garnet Golf Club ($35,000) to replace a roof; Mareeba Sporting Shooters Association ($27,493) to purchase equipment; the Mossman Junior Rugby League Club ($34,494) to install seating, security cameras and equipment; Port Douglas Junior Football Club ($35,000) for a storage and office facility; the Miallo State School P&C ($32,000) to upgrade courts; and Mossman RSL sub-branch ($23,980) to install a solar system.
