ALMOST $1.4 million has been granted to 129 community groups across remote, rural and regional Australia, including the Melville Forest community who were awarded a grant towards upgrading their community hall.

Through the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) flagship Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program, the small community received a $10,000 grant to improve the commonly used community hall.

These grants have been awarded just nine weeks after the round closed.

FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, Jill Karena said there is an increasing need for FRRR to fill gaps in areas that may have previously relied on funding from government incentives or programs or support from local businesses.

“Given the uncertainty of the current financial landscape, groups have told us that they value having access to timely secured funding to support medium to long term goals, as well as initiatives that respond to present needs and priorities,” she said.

“These are the projects that create a sense of place and identity, and the people and organisations that make these inspiring projects happen need our support.”

The lucky recipients from the Melville Forest community hope to continue the project of upgrading their historical hall which is used for a range of community events including CFA brigade meetings, community breakfasts and dinners, and weekly yoga sessions.

It has also been hired out for private functions such as family gathering occasions and birthday parties.

Melville Forest Community Hall president, Joanne Tully said residents of the area have been delighted to receive the grant and are excited for the projects ahead.

“We are very thankful and very happy,” she said.

“We were pleasantly surprised with an early reply.”

Ms Tully said the “long overdue makeover” will hopefully be complete by July in time for a community event and will have various interior upgrades.

“The hall was a primary school back in the 60s, which was probably when the hall was last painted,” she said.

“The floors will be sanded and polished, internal walls painted and air conditioning (installed).”

The Melville Forest community was also successful in a 2023 Southern Grampians Shire Council grant that upgraded electrical wiring at the hall, along with replacing internal and security lighting, and had a hot water system installed with a new pump.

Unlike many upgrades that may be prolonged due to wet weather, the case is quite the opposite for the Melville Forest community, with the interior painting job set to be underway “as soon as it starts to rain”.

“It’s going to be fantastic,” Ms Tully said.

“It’s going to continue to bring about more opportunities for the use of the hall and make it much more appealing.”