SEVEN Yarra Valley volunteer groups have been given a cash boost to support them in their community activities.
McEwen MP Fran Bailey announced last week that the groups had successfully applied for grants totalling $17,801 under the Volunteer Small Equipment Grants (VSEG).
Hoddles Creek Red Cross Unit, Millgrove Baptist Church, Wandin East Cricket Club, Friends of Hoddles Creek, Woori Yallock Primary School P&FA, Yarra Valley Soccer Club and the Healesville Amateur Radio Group were among 35 organisations in McEwen which will benefit from more than $68,000 in funding.
Ms Bailey said the grants provided much needed basic support for the volunteers who gave their time to help their local community.
“Basic gardening equipment, catering items such as eskies and barbecues and safety equipment such as gloves and goggles, can be very expensive and our not-for-profit organisations can only hold so many fundraising barbecues and car washes, in our small communities,” Ms Bailey said.
Congratulating the organisations she said the groups would use the funding to purchase items such as photocopiers, first aid kits, kitchen appliances and gardening equipment.
“Volunteers provide essential support and services to members of the community who are most in need, and I welcome the Australian Government’s support for our local volunteers,” she said.
Jennifer Seabrook from the Friends of Hoddles Creek, said the group would use their grant to purchase a new backpack sprayer, brush cutter and other gardening equipment which, she said, would make life much easier for the group’s volunteers.
“Projects like clearing blackberries along the creek will be much easier with the sprayer and brush cutter,” Ms Seabrook said.
“And the new equipment will not only assist our current volunteers, but allow us to have more volunteers on each project and simplify the work undertaken for easier planting and faster weed control.”
Information on VSEG grants is available through Ms Bailey’s office on 1300 131 186 or the website www.facsia.gov.au
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