Seven local community groups in Hawkesbury to benefit

 

Seven non-profit organisations and community groups have been selected to share in a $25,000 grant provided by telecommunications provider, Southern Phone.

The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Kim Ford and Southern Phone Chairman, Bill Hilzinger, formally announced the funding recipients on Tuesday, 3 March at the Hawkesbury City Council Chambers, Windsor. They were joined by representatives of the successful grant recipients.

“The community groups and organisations that have received these grants will be able to strengthen their programs and activities which will greatly benefit the local community,” Councillor Ford said.

“I’d like to thank Southern Phone Company for supporting local communities in regional NSW, and providing much needed funding for vital services and programs in our area.”

The community groups to benefit are:

  • Windsor Preschool Association Inc. – $3,000 for activities to promote awareness of Aboriginal culture
  • Hawkesbury Skills Inc. – $5,000 for renovations to Hawkesbury skills building
  • MAD MOB Cultural Art Group – $3,550 for resources and excursions for the MAD MOB Cultural Art Group
  • Hawkesbury Community Outreach Services Inc. – $2,000 for relief packs for disadvantaged families mainly west of the Kurrajong area.
  • Bligh Park Community Services – $6,450 for the refurbishment of the tennis shed next to Bligh Park Community Centre.
  • PACT Windsor Local Area Command – $3,000 to conduct Participation Acknowledgement Commitment Transformation (PACT) program for youth.
  • Glossodia Community Information and Neighbourhood Centre Inc. – $2,000 to build a cubby house.

Southern Phone Company Ltd was formed in 2002 after the receipt of funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Networking the Nation (NTN) program. A public company, Southern Phone is owned by 41 local councils, of which Hawkesbury City Council is one. Each one of the 41 councils has an equal shareholding. Over the past 12 years Southern Phone has grown to be the second largest home phone provider in regional Australia.

The Southern Phone Grants Scheme is a new initiative launched in December 2014. More than one million dollars has been distributed between 41 mostly regional council areas in NSW as part of the Southern Phone community grant initiative. The program has delivered a grant of $25,000 to support community projects in each of its shareholder council areas, as Mr Hilzinger explained.

“We are very pleased to be able to provide this funding boost and glad to be able to make a difference in these regional areas,” Mr Hilzinger said.

“This $1 million funding boost has seen community gardens, playgrounds, shade structures, sporting fields and more built or improved all over NSW and we are thrilled to be able to support regional communities in this way.

“We know there are many regional community groups in real need of extra support for important local activities. These grants are designed to meet those needs,” he said.

The 2014 Southern Cross Phone Grant Scheme was open to non-profit community groups and the $25,000 grant for Hawkesbury community groups and organisations was administered by Hawkesbury City Council.

For more information visit Hawkesbury City Council