The funding included a total of $81,492.65 awarded under the community grants of Small Town Festive Decoration Grants, Community Matching Grants, Greater Shepparton Access and Inclusion Grants and Creative City Grants. A further $24,385 was awarded under the sustainable development streams of New Business Grants and Community Sustainability Grants.
Council runs a wide range of grant programs throughout the year which provide community groups, businesses, organisations and not-for-profits the opportunity to apply for funding to help upgrade facilities, improve community services and encourage participation in programs and events.
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, said it was fantastic to see such a large sum of money distributed back into the community which will benefit the wider region.
“We are always pleased to deliver grants and funding to community groups and organisations which need a helping hand to achieve their goals, whether that be through hosting an event, purchasing upgraded equipment, or running workshops and training programs,” he said.
“We understand how important this grant funding can be and we look forward to seeing these successful applicants put the funding to good use.”
For more information about Council’s grants program, visit our website grants and funding page
A full list of successful grant applicants is included below.
Small Town Festive Decoration Grant Program 2023
| Organisation | Grant awarded (GST free) |
| Bunbartha Recreation Reserve | $1,807 |
| Tatura Planning Committee | $1,820 |
| Lions Club of Merrigum Incorporated | $2,000 |
| Tallygaroopna Men’s Shed Inc. | $1,170 |
| Lions Club of Toolamba | $2,000 |
| Mooroopna Men’s Shed | $2,000 |
| Total | $10,797 |
Community Matching Grants Round 2 2022/2023
| Organisation | Event | Grant awarded (GST free) |
| Nabi Akram Mosque | CCTV at Nabi Akram Mosque - The Mosque is utilised by the Islamic community members for events including Ramadan, Eid celebrations, funerals, and several community events including Council’s Cultural Bus Tour, Sunday morning CALD language school, daily evening prayers and Muharrum. Installation of CCTV cameras will enable 24 hours of monitoring, deter any unwanted guests and provide some security to its users/community members and surrounding businesses. | $5,000 |
| Murchison Primary School | Veggies and native plants at Murchison Primary School - Seven large planter boxes have been neglected due to the school being shut during recent COVID lockdowns. The planter boxes already have soil in them and are crying out for new plants and to be brought to life again. Some will see veggies planted in them while others will receive native plants. This is a project for not just the students to get involved in, but also parents and other members of the community. | $1,375 |
| The Goulburn Murray Community Leadership Program Inc | Board Ready Program - The goal of the Board Ready Program is to increase the diversity of the people sitting on local boards and committees. The program will provide opportunities for people to develop the skills, confidence and connections to take the next step towards a seat at a Board table. For the interns, the program will provide an opportunity to observe a Board in action by attending meetings as well as receiving mentorship and guidance from existing Board Directors. The intern will also be able to connect and share their experience with others who have the same pursuit and aspirations. The Boards will be introduced to potential Board members who are not within their current networks, hence increasing the diversity of the voices managing their organisation. | $1,200 |
| Goulburn Valley U3A | Painting of GVU3A bathrooms and entry foyer - It is the wish of the U3A committee to provide a clean, safe and welcoming environment for our 360+ members. The U3A entry hall has had numerous alterations and is looking very unwelcoming. The hallway and entry foyer have had their lighting upgraded by Council recently however the two areas outlined have not been painted for at least 30 years. The toilet block bathrooms at the rear of the hall inEsson Street, one male, one female and one disabled are very shabby and are in need of a coat of paint. | $3,395 |
| Generations Church ACC Inc. | Parenting Children Course - The Parenting Children Course is designed for those parenting children up to ten years old. This course was started in 1990 and the material was first published in 2011. It is for any parent or carer of children, whether they consider themselves to have strong parenting skills or are struggling. Guests can come alone or as a couple, all families are welcome. The parenting course is hosted at the Generations Church building, which has the rooms and facilities to deliver the course. The group will consist of ten families/up to 20 adults. It is expected that there could be up to 30 kids attending while their parent/s participate in the course. Each session will run for 1.5hrs, and be delivered over ten weeks from 4.30pm to 6pm. The course content is on a DVD and the questions are contained within the manual. It is planned for this to run in Term 2 and Term 3 of the school year. | $3,500 |
| Murchison Community Planning Group | Development of a Murchison Community Directory - This project aims to create a directory of welfare groups, interest groups, sporting groups, emergency services, service groups, community groups and businesses. A directory of relevant information would be useful to new residents or visitors, for easy reference of town maps, services, clubs, groups or welfare. The community is excited about the possible development of this Community Directory and are also looking to incorporate a 'Welcome Pack' for all new arrivals to town. From past experience this has proven to be a very successful way to encourage people to get involved in the community. | $4,500 |
| Generations Op Shop | Generations Op Shop’s sign project - Generations Op Shop will improve and revitalise the signage around the store. Once the signage in place it will continue to make an impact for many years to come. The current signage at the rear of the shop is faded, no longer legible and is in desperate need of being replaced. This project will not only revitalise the space, but will aim to increase community participation in donating goods, improve access to Foodbank services and increased use of our Coffee Corner. | $2,425.15 |
| St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria) Inc. | Volunteer recruitment St John Ambulance Goulburn Valley Division - This project is designed to recruit five to 10 volunteers from the Greater Shepparton community to the St John Ambulance Goulburn Valley Division. The project will include a targeted local marketing campaign, training and induction program, which includes obtaining a First Aid certificate, attending duties as an observer and if they are still committed, they will be trained to a first responder level and issued with a St John uniform. | $3,670 |
| Kialla Golf Club | Purchase of a Kubota lawn mower - Kialla Golf Club was heavily hit by the recent flooding which consequently rendered the golf course unusable for three months. The Club were then faced with the unenviable task of attempting to return the course to the pre-flood conditions. Volunteers were faced with constant breakdowns due to the extra work load on outdated equipment. Countless hours were spent by volunteers as they undertook the arduous task of preparing the golf course. After all this extra work, it was quite obvious that an additional mower was required. The purchase of this zero turn mower will free up the front deck mower which currently has a very heavy workload. | $3,311.50 |
| Murchison Men's Shed Inc. | New recreation area in Men's Shed - Men's shed members will install a second hand kitchen unit in the designated area of the recreation room of the new shed. They will also install a first aid room with medical bed and first aid cabinet. A wall will be built to separate the kitchen and recreation room from the work area of the shed. This will include windows and doors, and the room will be furnished with a table, chairs, television, refrigerator, freezer and cooking utensils. This furnishing will create membership comfort, relaxation, a space to hold talks, invite guest speakers and discussions on men's health and wellbeing. | $4,600 |
| Shepparton Riding for the Disabled | Purchase a ride on mower - The organisation's focus is to sustain, develop and grow programs for the benefit of their riders and future generations of riders. They have 20 acres to maintain including fully fenced horse paddocks, tanks and water troughs, machinery and hay sheds, post and rail fencing around the arena, storage for horse gear, main shed and newly constructed amenities block. As a number of our volunteers are over 70 years old, the purchase of a ride on mower will the best way for the large arena and grounds to be maintained to a high standard by our band of willing, but aged volunteers. | $5,000 |
| Total | $37,976.65 | |
Greater Shepparton Access and Inclusion Grants 2023
| Organisation | Project | Stream | Grant amount awarded (GST free) |
| Goulburn Valley Woodworkers | Undertake an access audit on the premises of the Goulburn Valley Woodworkers Club. | Stream 1 | $1,000 |
| Goulburn Valley Pride Inc. | Update GV Pride website to increase accessibility. | Stream 1 | $1,000 |
| Toolamba RecreationReserve and Community Centre CommunityAsset Committee | Improve access to existing toilet facilities at the Toolamba Recreation Reserve. | Stream 2 | $1,884 |
| Horses For Hope Limited | Upgrade of existing footpaths to increase accessibility and the installation of an access ramp at the Horses For Hope site. | Stream 2 | $10,000 |
| Total | $13,884 | ||
Creative City Grants Round 1 2022/2023
| Applicant | Project | Grant amount awarded |
| Dookie Arts | Songwriter Workshops at Dookie Hub - The Winter Sessions are being delivered in the Dookie Hall for the month of August and these events offer the opportunity to utilise the professional skills and expertise of the touring musicians by offering workshops each Sunday in the Dookie Hall. These will be ticketed workshops, though free tickets will be available to those who communicate financial hardship or identify as First Nations. This collaboration means Dookie will come alive with music, not only to enjoy but to learn from and contribute to the local music scene. Skills include song writing, performance, touring, self-management and recording/releasing music. | $4,600 |
| Tatura Community House Inc. | Walkway Gallery - The Tatura Community House is set to launch a new art space called the Walkway Gallery, offering a platform for both emerging and established artists to showcase their work. This exciting project is aimed at providing a dynamic and creative hub for the local community and will serve as a venue for a diverse range of exhibitions and events. The Walkway Gallery will offer visitors a unique cultural experience, displaying a wide variety of art forms. From painting and sculpture to photography and mixed media, the Walkway Gallery promises to be a must-visit destination for anyone with an interest in the arts. | $5,000 |
| St Georges Road Primary School | School library and music mural - The project comprises of two murals completed at school by the artist Tank, using ideas from the whole school community. Tank is an established local Shepparton artist who is inspired to work in the education space to help promote important values. The murals would allow him to create a legacy at the school and inspire student artists who would like to enter this profession. The first mural would promote the importance of reading and will be placed across the library. Many students don't read at home with their parents and some students have low literacy levels. The mural would help promote the importance of reading to students and families. The second mural would be about music and performing arts and will be placed on the music classroom wall. The mural would be able to highlight what the music program covers and help communicate what students learn and the importance of the program. | $5,000 |
| Bruce Archibald on behalf of Shepparton Jazz Orchestra | Shepparton jazz suite performance - Wade Gregory will be commissioned to write a four-part jazz suite referencing local themes. The band will rehearse in October and perform at the Dookie Hall on, or around, 12 November 2023. This will involve the Shepparton Jazz Orchestra including a vocalist, a local sound engineer and many local music lovers who can make up the audience. There are not many opportunities to hear this style of music in Shepparton, and it is important to encourage a local composer to create work. The aim is to achieve a celebration of big band jazz and local music making. | $4,325 |
| Total | $18,835 | |
New Business Grant Round Three 2022/2023
| Business | Project | Grant amount awarded (GST free) |
| Escape Smash Play Shepparton | Building refurbishment - The project will include painting the building and upgrading the current lighting, and updating old and worn fixtures. | $8,500 |
| Total | $8,500 | |
Community Sustainability Grant Round Two 2022/2023
| Organisation | Project | Grant amount awarded (GST free) |
| Sacred Heart Primary School | Organic waste is gold – Request for funds for organic waste bins for school classrooms to divert waste from landfill. | $730 |
| Transition Tatura | Communities shaping the future: Cooking all electric – Request for funds to host a film festival in Tatura showcasing the benefits of cooking with induction cooktops rather than gas. | $3,000 |
| Horses for Hope | Sustainability upgrade – Request for funds to upgrade inefficient heaters and coolers to an energy efficient reverse cycle split system. | $2,580 |
| Bunbartha Recreation Reserve | Lighting upgrade to increase efficiency – Request for funds to upgrade old lighting at the centre and reserve to more energy efficient lighting. | $2,906 |
| Murchison Primary School | Cold water tap for Murchison Primary School – Request for funds to install a cold filtered water tap to divert waste from landfill. | $2,985 |
| Dookie Arts Group | Dookie native garden – Request for funds to revitalise and extend the existing native gardens at the base of the Dookie Silo and alongside the Dookie CWA Gardens. | $1,000 |
| Kialla Hall Committee | Electric oven and cooktop – Replacement of the existing gas cooktop and oven with an electric cooktop and oven to reduce emissions. | $2,684 |
| Total | $15,885 | |
