Hard Working Community Groups Benefit from Grants Program
25 August 2022
Sporting and environmental groups, residents’ associations and local schools are among 20 recipients across Australia enjoying the benefits of property developer Cedar Woods’ Community Grants program in 2022.
Now in its 14th year, the program supports local organisations, education providers and not-for-profit groups by providing financial assistance to help them continue to provide valuable services to the local community.
The program is designed specifically to benefit local organisations at a grassroots level in and around the communities Cedar Woods creates.
Cedar Woods’ Managing Director Nathan Blackburne said the property developer was a proud, long-term supporter of grassroots community organisations.
“We’ve been creating quality communities for 35 years and we know that a thriving community is more than just the green landscaped parks, streets, walkways, townhouses, apartments, and office spaces we develop,” Mr Blackburne said.
“We believe in creating meaningful places that inspire connection and foster community spirit that enriches the lives of all our residents.
“We’re focused on giving back to the people who call our developments home and helping our communities flourish for an even better tomorrow.
“That’s why Cedar Woods has a Community Grants Program– a program that actively supports community groups with funding that can help them make an even bigger impact for the good of our residents.
“Since 2009 our Community Grants Program has provided support to more than 150 community groups across Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia,” Mr Blackburne said.
“A portion of our sales revenue is invested into the program, with the current total investment exceeding $600,000.”
“It is our way of giving back to those organisations that provide vital services for our community. Many of these groups are run by hard-working volunteers who make our communities special places to be a part of.”
In Victoria, Truganina South Primary School adjacent to Cedar Woods’ Williams Landing development is one of the beneficiaries of the program and will put its grant toward the creation of an outdoor learning space for students.
Principal Linda Danese said the outdoor space would give students more learning spaces and bring families together in a place where they could meet, greet and mingle.
“Cedar Woods’ generosity means that we will be able to fully complete works on our outdoor space, install tables and create areas where students can work and learn outdoors,” Ms Danese said.
Cedar Woods’ Ellendale estate in Brisbane’s north is home to the Ferny Grove Falcons AFL club. Players can look forward to a better game day experience after they received community grants funding, which will help to reopen the club’s canteen.
Falcons president Janne Barns said the club had grown significantly since Ellendale was established, with many of the community’s young families joining the tight-knit local club.
“Our facilities are old and last year we were forced to shut part of the canteen, so we weren’t able to offer some of the snacks kids enjoy,” Ms Barns said. “About a quarter of our revenue comes in through our canteen so it’s incredibly important.”
“This funding means we can now go back to providing amazing memories for our kids and hopefully get more involved in the great sport of AFL.”
St Raphael’s School in South Australia will be using its grant funding to host a trivia quiz night, which will be held to raise money to pay for reading books, basketball court upgrades and other initiatives. Also in South Australia, Le Fevre Peninsula Primary students will benefit from new athletics tops and football guernseys.
At Bushmead in Perth’s foothills, residents are enjoying the new equipment purchased using Community Grants funding for their regular Pilates in the Park. Pilates instructor Kym Double said her weekly exercise sessions were wonderful for building relationships among community members.
“What better way to meet your neighbours and catch up with friends than in this beautiful park environment, participating in exercise sessions and using fabulous new pilates equipment.”