Applications open for Transgrid Community Partnership funding

Community grants are currently available across the Riverina, Murray and South West NSW with groups able to apply for individual grants of up to $5,000 to help fund local initiatives.

Executive General Manager of Major Projects Gordon Taylor said the grants program, which has been running since 2012, is one of the ways Transgrid is supporting regional communities.

“We want to provide lasting benefits to our customers, communities and the environment by supporting community initiatives which provide much needed services in their local area.

“The grants program is an opportunity for community organisations to secure additional funding for a range of initiatives including in education, environmental sustainability and safety and wellbeing,” he said.

The previous round of the Community Partnerships program delivered support to 44 not-for-profit groups.

“These contributions had a direct impact on more than 18,500 individuals with a flow-on effect to over 200,000 community members – helping make a real difference at the grassroots level,” Mr Taylor said.

As part of project EnergyConnect Transgrid provided a grant to the Country Education Foundation of Coleambally-Darlington Point to support students so they can go away to study and then bring skills back to the local area.

Foundation Chairperson Penny Sheppard said it was a huge help.

“The support from Transgrid has been amazing and it has allowed us this year to help four students follow their dreams in studying nursing, rehabilitation and commerce.

“Those people because they’ve been raised here are normally more than happy to come back. If we have skills here that look after people, then people will stay,” she said.

The South Wagga Rotary group also received funding for the Rocky Hill regeneration project.

Volunteer Heather Littlejohn said the grant enabled Rotary to purchase a first aid kit, tools and native seedlings.

“We can’t say thank you enough for it because the funding has made our job much easier and it’s just appreciative that the support has been given because Transgrid can see the value in it,” she said.

Ben Witham a committee member with the Coleambally-Darlington Point Junior Rugby League also successfully applied for a grant so the club could purchase much needed equipment.

“We’ve been trying to raise the money on our own for a good while to get the gazebo, the tables and chairs we can use on game days.

“With Transgrid’s assistance we’ve been able to pull this together and we’re over the moon, it’s fantastic and makes a big difference to our club,” he said.

The Wagga Cycling Club was also a recipient in the most recent round of grants.

Club President Jeff Windsor said the grant went towards one of their biggest costs to cover first aid training and purchase a defibrillator.

 “The portable defibrillator suits adults and children and we can take it wherever we race and that gives is great peace of mind because we’ve got the equipment on site at the time if we need it.

“We really appreciate the grant from Transgrid and thank them for it because it’s assisting us to get kids on bikes and keep them safe,” he said.

If you know of or are part of a not-for-profit group with an initiative that will benefit your community Transgrid is accepting applications until August 31.

To apply for a grant or see stories about previous grant recipients, visit our Community Partnerships Program page.

To learn more please contact the Transgrid team at cpp@transgrid.com.au