Twelve volunteer organisations across Indi will share in $46,214 in federal grant funding, Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has announced.
These grants range from $2700 to $5000 and will assist organisations to better support their volunteers to purchase small equipment, pay fuel, transport and training costs.
Dr Haines called each organisation to share the good news personally.
The successful applicants were recommended to the Federal Government for funding after being assessed by a panel of community leaders.
“These grants will go a long way towards supporting volunteers to continue their important work in the community, in work that brings people together especially in times of need,” Dr Haines said.
“According to the latest census results, 19.5 per cent of people in Indi did volunteer work with a group or organisation — that’s well above the Victorian rate of 13.3 per cent and the Australian rate of 14.1 per cent.
“We really are a community that gives back.”
A diverse and varied list of volunteer groups from across the whole of Indi will benefit, with the funding to go from specialist equipment for local fire brigades to technical equipment like a laptop and EFTPOS Square for the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club.
The Violet Town Bowls Club will buy a new ride-on lawn mower and the Murrindindi Ranges Wildlife Shelter will use the grant to purchase equipment and fuel cards for volunteers.
Dr Haines said volunteers were the lifeblood of towns across Indi.
“Whether it's at a bowls club, the CFA, the op shop, the wildlife shelter, Men’s Shed or more, volunteers make our communities exactly that — communities.
“Research shows that volunteering increases our confidence, our satisfaction with our quality of life and our mental health, especially in older people.
“More than any of the work we do — these groups give us social connection, and the last few years have shown us just how important that is.
“I am proud to be able to support volunteer community groups through these grants.”