CASTERTON’S Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal committee is once again floored, after the district contributed another record-breaking amount to the Good Friday Appeal.

SOUTHERN Grampians Shire Council has allocated almost $100,000 to community projects in the second round of the 2021/2022 Greater Grants program.
Split annually into two rounds, local community groups and individuals are encouraged to apply for funding to help progress important community projects from idea into reality.
Southern Grampians Shire Council mayor, Bruach Colliton said council was impressed and inspired with the innovative project ideas this funding round.
“Council is pleased to announce the allocation of $98,576.60 to financially support the Southern Grampians community,” he said.
Successful applications for Round Two include (but are not limited to):
• Glenthompson War Memorial Hall Supper Room Sustainability Upgrade
• Branxholme Heritage Signs
• Hamilton Speedway Drivers Canteen Extension
• Lion’s Club of Penshurst Mobile Skin Check Van
• Pigeon Ponds Recreation Reserve Kitchen Upgrade
• St Mary’s Primary School Christmas Parade
• Hamilton Eisteddfod
• Hamilton History Centre Scanner Equipment Purchase
• Dunkeld Arboretum Signage
Dunkeld Post Office also scored with funding for its heritage restoration of the historic building.
Keith and Karen Arnold are licensees of the town’s essential service and with the structure dating back to 1891, it’s in need of some specialised attention.
Mr Arnold called it “one the town’s most recognisable buildings” and with recent restumping completed, there was “internal and external minor repairs to damage unavoidably caused by the process”.
“There is further structural and cosmetic work to be done and the roof will be replaced,” he said.
“We anticipate the work will take approximately two years to complete.
“We applied for the grant to assist in the restoration and painting of the building’s facade, a very substantial undertaking.
“There is a Shire heritage overlay which applies to the facade, setting some conditions regarding preservation of features, choice of colours etc.
“The grant submission was enthusiastically supported by submissions from a number of local history and tourism associations.
“(It) should be a big winner for the town. The post office attracts lots of tourists already - should be very popular once it's done.”
Cr Colliton was thrilled to see funding again go out to a number of worthy community enterprises.
“Every year we have the privilege to witness amazing community driven projects from locals designed to support the region, whether that’s in tourism and events, heritage, sustainability and community infrastructure,” he said.
“The Greater Grants program was established to deliver council grants that are responsive to the needs and opportunities of the community, inclusive and equitable to all.
“The quality of the applications received was once again incredibly high, and displayed great innovation, which really shows the calibre of projects our community are working together to achieve.”
Round one for the 2022/2023 financial year will open for applications in the second half of 2022.
For more information on upcoming Greater Grants, visit council’s website at bit.ly/37jmcSj or by contacting Customer Service on 5573 0444.

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