Towns across the Wimmera and southern Mallee will receive tens of thousands of dollars from a $1.4 million Foundation For Rural and Regional Renewal program.
FRRR is a not-for-profit organisation that creates and seeks grants on behalf of rural and regional communities.
Its Strengthening Rural Communities, SRC, program this year distributed money to 129 community groups across Australia, including Ararat, Dimboola, Murtoa and Birchip.
Ararat Men’s Shed received $7800 for equipment to encourage new members and enhance existing members’ skills; Hindmarsh Shire Council received $10,000 to host a series of film screenings and concerts in Dimboola, aimed at enhancing post-pandemic social opportunities for seniors in the region; Murtoa’s Big Weekend event committee received $10,000 to enable local artists to create a lakeside lighting installation for the event; and Birchip Neighbourhood House received $6400 to enhance senior citizens’ health and social wellbeing by hosting 10 monthly community lunches in Birchip.