A fun run, live music shows, community art, sports ground upgrades and assistance for a food-relief program were among the projects that have been funded via Wellington Shire Council's Quick Response Grants scheme over the past four months.
Grants totalling $14,512 and ranging from $500 to $2,000 went to 11 not-for-profit groups operating across Wellington Shire, spanning events, projects and facilities.
Funded through the Community Assistance Grants Scheme, the grants, handed out from November 2020 to February 2021, give the region a shot in the arm as tourism numbers begin to return to normal and community art and sports events resume.
Events funded include the Race the Rubeena fun run (to be held Sunday 28 March); gigs by former Weddings, Parties, Anything frontman Mick Thomas at The Bundy Hall in Bundalaguah and outdoors in Devon North; and art and craft events hosted by North Gippsland CWA and Loch Sport Community House.
The Port Albert Progress Association was granted assistance to provide Covid-related signage, cleaning and sanitisers and Sale Bridge Club was granted $1,012 to meet the Covid-related costs associated with a return to playing face-to-face competition.
In a sign that the pandemic's impacts on the community remain, Wellington Food Pantry was granted $2,000 to provide increased freezer capacity to support food relief for people in financial hardship across Wellington Shire.
Organisations seeking funding to minimise the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on their capacity to operate are reminded that applications for a COVID-19 Operational Support Grant (www.wellington.vic.gov.au/covidgrant
