By Callum Ludwig
Community groups and organisations are benefiting from the grants they received from the Upper Yarra Regional Community Recovery Committee (RCRC).
A total of $110,366 has been distributed between 14 recipients in the Upper Yarra with educational, recreational and strategic purposes in mind.
The ADRA Redwood Community Centre received $9143 to create a community indoor playspace and Manager Kate Barratt said Warburton parents have been telling them for years that there are no places that are out of the weather and suitable to take their small kids to play.
“We are hoping to provide a fun and relaxing social outlet for children and caregivers, that is free of cost, safe and conveniently located for people in the Upper Yarra, we want to see families coming back into the centre,” she said.
“In response to local need, staff capacity and Covid, Redwoods family and children programs were pared back over the past few years. A renewed interest in parent-led opportunities has inspired the concept of the Redwood Indoor Playspace.”
The indoor playspace will be open throughout the week for casual use and will also be available for group bookings for parties and other events at a reasonable cost.
Koha Community Cafe Committee Member and Volunteer Michele Osterhoudt said this most recent RCRC grant will be invaluable in allowing them to continue not only regular Koha operations but also the expanded use of the Community Space.
“We are excited that the community will be better served as they enjoy the activities offered at Koha by both our own volunteers as well as other groups hiring the hall, we have been able to outfit each of its three rooms with televisions, whiteboards, and other necessary accessories to hold various types of meetings in those spaces,” she said.
“We encourage groups to enquire how they might use the Space for their events or activities, as we know many struggle to find an affordable room or hall to hire.”
$10,000 is going towards helping LinC Yarra Valley’s Project Coordination and Strategic Initiative.
“The Recovery Grant money will go a long way towards helping people in the Yarra Valley with food and bill help to aid their recovery from the storm and weather events,” said General Manager Julie Szabo.
The WHYLD Community Group is establishing a monthly movie night between April and September each year in Don Valley Hall with their funding.
Secretary Meryl Knoll said they have been able to develop a space fit for purpose, including an upgrade to comfortable seating in the hall, with special seating for the kids, dual-purpose roller blinds for the windows and some appliances for the kitchen.
“With our generous funding, the first six movie nights will be free of charge. However, as a token offering, we ask our movie patrons to please bring a plate or packet of goodies to share for supper. We will offer popcorn and hot/cold drinks for a gold coin donation,” she said.
As a local community group, we have been working towards developing the space at the hall where our community can come together in one place, get to know the neighbours, make new friends, and enjoy a sense of belonging,”
“We believe that our movie nights will provide a low/no-cost opportunity for families to
have a great night out in and with their local community.”
The Wesburn Junior Football Club boosted their Comprehensive Wellbeing Initiative through the grant, holding a well-being and peer group pressure program with the youngest players, a session on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse for the slightly older group and a session on positive coaching methods for coaches.
President Wayne Morgan said the support of the grant was pivotal.
“We don’t have a passive income other than the canteen, so the grant enabled us to have all programs and the cost of food for the children covered, it was no expense out of the Wesburn Junior Football Club itself, which was great,” he said.
“It’s pretty paramount for the little ones, being part of a sporting group plays an important role in their well-being and it’s a safe zone for them.”
The Over 50s Friendship Group is set to get their groove on, with regular ballroom/New Vogue dance events scheduled and free dancing classes established.
Keen dancer and group member Will Eastmure said he believes the grant has been used prudently.
“The result is now that we have a social event once a month for the community, we have a weekly event for the community to teach people to dance and the upshot of it all is that we are using the profits from these ventures to put on our community meal,” he said.
The other projects supported by the grant were: Equipment, training and outings for the Glen’s Goldies swimming group, a Faunal Emblems Family Fun Day from Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, a Butterfly Recovery Project at the Upper Yarra Secondary College, the Millgrove Residents Action Group’s River Road Trail, the Reefton McMahon’s Creek Action Group’s Community Resilience and Connection Calendar and Cire Services Halloween Street Party.
A Cire spokesperson said the Halloween Street Party relies on support from grants and sponsorship to make this a free event for families in our community.
“ Given the challenges of recent times with the pandemic and rising interest rates and cost of living, Cire Community Hubs believes such an event significantly improves overall health, wellbeing and sense of community,” they said.
“The funding supports the purchase of the showbags, children’s entertainment, the sausage sizzle and many other expenses involved in running the event.”
Yarra Valley ECOSS’s grant supported a Family Fun Day on Friday 21 July, set to become a regular feature.
“This will be held on the 3rd Friday of the Market as part of The ECOSS Valley Market with free Kids activities,” said Community Engagement, Market and Events Coordinator at Yarra Valley ECOSS Leanne Hall.
“The second project is Hands on the land, small feet on the dance floor. We really value the opportunity to support a range of activities, workshops and seminars in the spirit of sustainable education at Yarra Valley ECOSS.”
