Bass Coast Shire Council distributed $151,200 to 44 community groups on Thursday, for Round Two of the 2021 Community Grants Program.
Due to the pandemic, this was the first opportunity to celebrate the awards in person since 2019 and therefore the recipients from Round One of the 2021 grants also came along to celebrate.
The event was held at the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club and featured a welcome of live music from local musician Nick Carver, who set the tone for a great afternoon of celebrations.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan said the event was particularly exciting, not just because of the amount of money that was being distributed to local groups, but it was also a chance to get together in person after a long two years.
“Bringing our community groups together in one place, in person, has so many benefits,” Cr Whelan said.
“It enables the sharing of projects and provides a great opportunity to network with other groups to discuss challenges, new initiatives, or just identify other groups to call on for advice.”
This Round saw grants awarded for a huge range of projects, events and equipment, including the Rotary Club of Phillip Island and San Remo’s project to upgrade their meeting rooms, the Inverloch Autumn Festival, and games equipment for the Bass Valley Pony Club, plus many more.
Each Round, up to three major project grants of up to $10,000 are awarded, as well a major project grant in the Climate Action category for up to $10,000. In this round, the major project recipients were the Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association, who received $8,332 for their Experience Cape Project and the Inverloch Bowling Club was awarded $10,000 for solar panel installation, allocated from the climate action category.
Cr Whelan said the presentation event is a great opportunity to acknowledge and thank the numerous people who volunteer their time to groups and committees, who make so many events and programs in Bass Coast possible.
“We are so pleased that we have a grants program to support our volunteers and some of the amazing projects that they initiate,” Cr Whelan said.
“With the funding they receive, these groups are able to provide a variety of different programs and events to benefit Bass Coast residents and visitors.
Applications for Round One of the 2022 Community Grants are now open and will close on Friday, 4 March.
