Denmark Community Foundation and Horsepower Highway set to receive funding boost though rural-focused program

Three Great Southern community organisations have each received about $10,000 in funding through a program designed to support bushfire recovery and preparedness projects.

More than 100 projects across Australia have received a share of $1,382,453 in grants through the Foundation for Rural, Regional and Renewal’s strengthening rural communities program.

The grants are designed to support projects that are led by local residents in small communities throughout the country.

In this round of funding 59 black summer bushfire recovery initiative will share $894,313 in grants for recovery and preparedness projects.

Another 58 projects will share $488,140 through the small and vital grant stream.

The Denmark Community Foundation received $10,000 to build organisational capacity and a strong bushfire resilient local community through the development of a strategic plan.

The Katanning and Districts Pool Association also received more than $11,000 to install a kitchen in their hall in order to create a safe space for youth and community support clients to meet and socialise.

Environmental group North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources also received $10,000 to expand the Horsepower Highway between Broomehill and Stirling Range National Park.

Two new artistic installations representing the local fire brigade and landcare groups will be added to the art trail.

All three organisations received their grants to help the communities become more resilient following the 2019-20 black summer bushfires across the country.

FRRR place portfolio lead Jill Karena said the projects would allow the community to connect, engage, celebrate and recover.

“Our ‘Heartbeat of Rural Australia’ study last year highlighted that among the biggest challenges for people was not being able to connect, so it was no surprise that many of the applications we saw in this round of SRC were about bringing people together,” she said.

“This ranges from making facilities more comfortable and welcoming, such as air conditioners or new furniture, to better IT equipment, internet connections or communication tools to engage with their communities.

“We have also seen some wonderful arts-based projects, which again bring people together, especially for those who were affected by the Black Summer bushfires.

“Underlying most of the (funding) requests is a desire to be stronger in the future — to be more resilient.”