The grants, which form Round One of the program, were noted at the December Council Meeting on Tuesday, with 20 groups successful in their applications.
The annual grant program aims to support and enable events that contribute economically, socially and culturally to the community and improve the liveability of Greater Shepparton. There are two streams of funding available under the program, Minor Events receiving up to $2,000 and Major Events receiving up to $5,000.
The funding for Round One is shared amongst a variety of events including a Christmas cycling event, bird exhibition and sale, an athletic carnival and a charity car show.
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, congratulated each of the successful grant applicants and thanked them for taking the time to submit an application.
“Community events are so important in helping to bring people together from all parts of the region. Greater Shepparton host events so well and we hope this Minor and Major Event Grant funding will help some of these events continue into the future,” he said.
“There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes from volunteer committees and working groups to coordinate these events and we look forward to seeing some fantastic events held over the next 12 months.”
Find out more about the Minor and Major Events Grant Program.
Information on each of the successful applications is included below.
| Organisation | Event | Details | Grant amount awarded (GST free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soroptimist International of Shepparton | Breakfast for International Women’s Day | International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This event is a breakfast, with local inspirational speakers including local women who achieved great success in their careers, developed successful businesses, and conquered adversity. | $500 |
| Shepparton Heritage Centre | 150 year celebration of Shepparton’s Foresters Hall | Foresters Hall is Shepparton's oldest historical building in existence, completed at the end of 1873. This public event aims to celebrate the significant milestone. This will include the reinstatement of the refurbished historical fireplace surround, retrieved from the original Shepparton Shire Hall, complete with photographic records demonstrating the significance of this important artefact. | $800 |
| Lions Club of Tatura Inc. | TatFest 2024 | Tatfest is a festival for the people of Tatura and surrounding districts. It is designed to attract families and people of all ages. It provides amusements for children, entertainment for adults, food and drinks all day, market type stalls selling a range of goods, and information stalls by local businesses. | $1,000 |
| Disability Sports Australia | Abilities Unleashed | Abilities Unleashed events serve as a platform where people with disabilities come together to engage in various sport and recreation activities, fostering a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and personal growth. The core philosophy of an Abilities Unleashed event revolves around breaking down the barriers which can limit the participation of individuals with disabilities in sport and recreation. | $800 |
| Know Your Roots | Pasifika Festival | A celebration of five years of Pasifika Festival being a part of the Greater Shepparton and Goulburn Valley region. Our event enables those from the Pacific who have made the GV their home, the opportunity to take to their own stage and share with the broader community who they are in order to grow understanding and harmony in the community. | $2,500 |
| Goulburn Valley Seniors Association Incorporated | A Summer Festival | This event celebrates summer with a sharing of cultures through games, stories, music/dance and food in an open, fenced space. Members of the GVSAI with other migrant and refugee communities will come together to connect and learn about each other. | $800 |
| Tallygaroopna Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee | Tallygaroopna Soldier Memorial Hall Centenary | A community celebration aiming to bring people together for the centenary of the Historic Hall. This event will be held on the 100th anniversary of its opening. It was originally opened on the Kings Birthday weekend in 1924. Past and present members of the community are invited to a Ball on the Saturday night and a roast luncheon on the Sunday. As well as having guest speakers, the Committee will be launching a centennial history book about the Hall. | $800 |
| Victorian All Welsh Show | Victorian All Welsh Show | A major three-day extravaganza that celebrates the diversity, skill and elegance of the Welsh Ponies and Cobs. The Victorian All Welsh Show is the largest and most prestigious of all the Australian held All Welsh Shows. The annual event showcases the versatility of the Ponies and Cobs through led, ridden, harness, working hunter and children’s events. Drawing participants and enthusiasts from across many states in Australia to both compete and spectate, the show stands as a testament to its widespread appeal and significance with the equestrian community. With a line-up of international and interstate qualified judges, the event attains the highest standards within a competitive atmosphere. | $1,000 |
| Rotary Club of Shepparton | Rotary Motor Show and Market Day | An event featuring a classic and new car display, caravans and motorbikes, along with market and food stalls. | $800 |
| Shepparton Access | Shepparton Access International Day of People with Disability | Shepparton Access celebrated International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) by hosting an event at The Woolshed on Friday 1 December. IDPwD is a United Nations observed day celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with a disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions in breaking down barriers, opening doors and realising an inclusive society for all. IDPwD is a major event for Shepparton Access to promote inclusivity, improve community awareness and be part of creating an inclusive and diverse community in Australia. The day provides a great opportunity to bring together participants, their families, carers, business partners and members of the community to celebrate the achievements of the participants during the year and to have fun and participate in various activities. | $800 |
| Segmento Foundation | Segmento Tarantella Festival | The festival promotes southern European traditional music and dance, to forge connections by encouraging communications and curiosity amongst diverse communities and by promoting cultural awareness amongst all generations. The festival brings together Australian, Italian and Greek artists to provide an original and multi-immersive experience of folkloristic traditional music and dance. Participants and facilitators include dancers, musicians, writers, poets, and visual artists. | $2,500 |
| Shepparton Gift Inc. | Shepparton Gift | Shepparton Athletic Gift will be part of the Victorian Athletic League (VAL) event schedule in 2024 in the lead up to the Stawell Gift at Easter with a 140 year history. VAL administer Pro Running or Gift races in Victoria and New South Wales, allowing athletes of all ages and abilities to compete in a fun and competitive athletic environment. The VAL manage a season of approximately 20 gifts per year in the lead up to the Stawell Gift at Easter telecast on Channel 7. The VAL committee have approved the 28 January 2024 as the date of the Shepparton Gift. Each athlete will be given a mark, or handicap, based on their ability, giving them an equal opportunity to triumph in their chosen event. The Gift expects to attract more than 400 people (some from interstate) to Shepparton and will be held the day after the Wangaratta Gift, ensuring many visitors will need accommodation in Shepparton. | $2,000 |
| Goulburn Valley Branch of the Avicultural Society of Australia Inc. | Shepparton Bird Exhibition and Sale | The Shepparton Bird Exhibition and Sale is an annual event that has been running for over 36 years. The event offers members of the public the chance to learn about, look at, buy, sell and trade many avian species. In addition, there is also a complete range of avian products including feeds and supplements, toys, medicines, leg rings and a wide variety of other accessories available for purchase. When available, an Avian Veterinarian is in attendance to provide information on health, welfare and sexing. This event is the primary source of disseminating information on bird keeping and welfare to the general public in the greater Goulburn Valley area and also draws people from all parts of Victoria and southern NSW. | $800 |
| HussIn Auto Detailing | HussIn 14th birthday charity car show | A charity car show to raise funds for mental health support via Beyond Blue. Previous years have raised $4,100 through products or services donated to be raffled off. People park up cars, bikes, and 4wds and show them off for fellow motorists or spectators walking through. | $2,000 |
| Shepparton Cycling Club Inc. | 2023 Shepparton Christmas Track Carnival | Shepparton Cycling Club is hosting Day Three of the Annual Victorian State Christmas Track Carnival Series. These races are catered to both junior and senior cyclists. The series is supported by AusCycling Victoria, and is taking place on 30 December 2023. The aim of the event is to provide a fun and competitive event for cyclists across Victoria, and other states to attend. The event typically draws riders from external states as well as metro and regional cyclists. This annual event is a keystone in the cycling calendar, especially for junior cyclists. | $2,500 |
| Dookie and District Development Forum Inc. | Dookie monthly market | This event aims to draw further tourism to Dookie. The Dookie and District Development Forum Inc. intend to encourage people to provide arts and crafts made locally within the district for sale in a market situation. It is hoped to turn into a monthly market. | $720 |
| The Lions Club of Toolamba Inc. | Celebrating 150 years of education in Toolamba and district | The Toolamba community is planning a celebration of 150 years of continuous education in the Toolamba district in conjunction with the Toolamba Primary School. The event will be held at the Toolamba Recreation Reserve and adjacent Toolamba Primary School. A group of approximately 16 community members, representing the various community groups of the town, have been meeting to develop the program of activities for the event which will be held on 20 April 2024 commencing at 1.00pm followed by a community breakfast on Sunday 21 April. The event is being promoted through the Toolamba community website as well as a newly established Facebook page in an effort to reach the wider audience of former residents and school students. | $776 |
| Singh Sports Club Inc. | Shepparton Vaisakhi and Sports Day | An unforgettable day of community bonding and cultural celebration. Attendees can immerse themselves in the exhilarating world of Kabbadi, where strength, strategy, and teamwork collide in a traditional game that has captured hearts for generations. Feel the thrill as players engage in friendly but fierce battles, showcasing their agility and resilience. | $2,000 |
| Albanian Moslem Society Shepparton Inc. | Shepparton Albanian Harvest Festival | The Shepparton Albanian Harvest Festival showcases the Albanian culture unlike any other event in Australia. Held annually each March in Shepparton, the Harvest Festival entertains audiences with traditional Albanian music and dancing, along with a fruit and vegetable market that offers produce grown and packed by local farmers. | $2,500 |
| Devenish Dookie and District Good Friday Appeal | Dookie Show ‘n Shine Charity Auction and Music Day | A morning show 'n shine of motorbikes and cars in the main street of Dookie. Last year this day raised $20,000 which went towards the grand total of raising $120,248. Mainly supported by Goulburn Valley community businesses, families and many volunteers from surrounding districts. This event has grown and is expected to even be bigger in 2024 with a lot of positive feedback and many participants saying they will be back again. This event also supports the local businesses in Dookie as many open on Good Friday because of this event, adding to their overall takings for their business. Many people within the community have been helped over the years by the Royal Children's Hospital. | $800 |
| Total | $26,396 | ||
