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    COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Kalkee Football Netball Club’s Travis Kerr and Jo Martin dish up free meals for members and their families after receiving an $8000 VicHealth grant. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Money to eat well and stay connected for Wimmera groups

The entire June 23, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

Wimmera organisations will share in $3-million of VicHealth funding to help communities reconnect and improve their health following the impact of coronavirus and the Victorian bushfires. 

Recipients range from sporting clubs to community welfare organisations.



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In Horsham district, Kalkee Football Netball Club will use $8000 to provide ‘Back Together Again’, a program involving the provision of free evening meals for families and the surrounding community.

The concept is designed to encourage social gathering around a hot meal without the need to worry about food costs, reducing financial barriers to social connections in the community.

Horsham Calisthenics College will use a $1300 grant to fund more equipment for members aged three to 19 so they are better equipped to engage in the sport.

In Ararat district, Tatyoon Football Netball Club received $2598 to enhance social connection and physical activity by recruiting a support co-ordinator to manage a walking group. 

The club will also use the money to subsidise meal costs in the town’s hall.

Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership, in collaboration with Sustain – The Australian Food Network, will use a $10,000 grant to present a series of training workshops and events to educate rural communities on how to grow edible gardens to promote healthy eating.

Labor Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said she was committed to supporting people in the community in need. 

“This much-needed funding from VicHealth aims to ensure local organisations can continue supporting our community to get their health and wellbeing back on track in 2021 and beyond,” she said. 

VicHealth chief executive Dr Sandro Demaio said community organisations played a vital role in helping Victorians hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Victorian bushfires to connect and take care of their wellbeing.

“This funding is about empowering fantastic grassroots organisations so Victorians facing disadvantage can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being active, eating healthy food and being socially connected,” he said.

“Protecting our health and wellbeing is more important than ever, so we’re thrilled to be able to help more Victorians enjoy better health and wellbeing through the direct support of their local clubs, organisations and community groups.”

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy echoed her delight in the funding announcements.

“Grassroots organisations are the heart and soul of our local communities and their efforts are key to helping us recover from this pandemic,” she said.

“Community organisations play a vital role, now more than ever, in helping people connect and take care of their wellbeing and it is critical that we continue to open up avenues for more people to get involved in sport.

“I congratulate and offer my full support to these organisations for their initiatives to achieve this.”