Happy: Tony Connell and Claire Bourke with the Shepparton Sporting Shooters Club’s new ride-on mower in front of the storage container bought with the approved grant.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Greater Shepparton City Council invites artists, community groups and not-for-profit organisations to submit grant applications to access a diverse pool of funding tailored to foster and nurture local initiatives.
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Open until Sunday, March 17, these grants range from festive decorations to sports development, and will provide financial support for proposals that enhance local art, community spirit, participation and wellbeing.
They include:
• Small Town Festive Decorations: Small towns within Greater Shepparton can now decorate their main streets and public spaces to celebrate the festive season with grants up to $2000, creating a vibrant environment for residents and visitors alike.
• Community Matching: Grants of up to $5000 are within reach for community groups with innovative one-off projects and events that contribute to the strength of the Greater Shepparton community. This initiative fosters collaboration and community engagement, encouraging the implementation of projects that have a lasting impact.
• Minor and Major Events: To encourage community spirit, participation and inclusion, grants of up to $2000 (minor event) and $5000 (major event) are available. These funds aim to facilitate events that bring the Greater Shepparton community together.
• Recognising the importance of sport in community development, Our Sporting Future is a total funding pool of $7000, which is allocated across three categories:
Sports Aid: Aims at supporting new and emerging sporting organisations, projects for special access and/or participation initiatives.
Women and Girls: Focuses on programs that increase participation opportunities for women and girls in sports clubs, including development programs or training.
Junior and Youth Participation: Targets the prevailing dip in engagement by amplifying sports participation among those aged between eight and 18.
• Creative City: A thriving community nurtures its creative talents. Grants of up to $5000 are available for projects that support local creative talents, contributing to diversity in the art sector. This initiative seeks to showcase and elevate the vibrant artistic community in Greater Shepparton.
• Healthy Communities: Grants up to $10,000 are available to build partnerships to educate the community, particularly young people, about harmful industries and misleading marketing. This initiative empowers local organisations to take a stand against detrimental practices, fostering a healthier and more informed community.
Mayor Shane Sali urged eligible community members and groups to apply.
“These grants are tailor-made for the community,” he said.
“The money is allocated each round so that council can support our local groups to put on an event, run a program or purchase something which will benefit the wider community.
“This money can be put towards a diverse range of projects, so I encourage locals to get creative and think of innovative, unique and meaningful ways to use the funding.”
The Shepparton Sporting Shooters Club emerged as one of last year’s successful grant recipients, securing $14,998.
This financial boost has enabled the club to acquire key assets, including a brand-new lawnmower from England for improved maintenance, upgraded surveillance cameras to enhance security and stylish new uniforms. These investments will significantly elevate the club’s operations and member experience.
Club president Tony Connell commended the seamless process and highlighted the efforts of council’s team in ensuring the application’s thorough completion before assessment.
Tat Fest was also among the successful grant recipients, securing $1000 for its 2023 event. Tat Fest has been a proud beneficiary of council grants since 2017, using the funds to curate entertainment, music and culinary delights for attendees of all ages.
Looking back: A notice displayed after a previous grant, which helped to build a new platform.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Tatura Lions Club secretary Malcolm Campbell said the process was a “breeze” — it took him only an hour to complete.
Mr Campbell emphasised the accessibility of the process, which he said ensured anyone with a project could seamlessly navigate the application.
