Cr Samantha Dunn: communities are winners

It was terrific to be able to preside over the Shire of Yarra Ranges Community Grants Award night last week. A great night, very well attended, it’s an opportunity for grant recipients to chat to other groups about their experiences and be acknowledged for their specific projects.

Me with Tilla Buden from Burrinja, who auspice the Hillside Film Festival, an annual youth focussed film festival showcasing the best original short films from emerging Victorian filmmakers under 30.

This year was no exception, the projects were rich and diverse in the range of themes on offer, from providing for the needy through to conceptual art projects.

Me pictured with Julian from the Selby Community House. The house received a grant for a festival celebrating local artists and musicians with sub themes of community building and environmental sustainability.

The community grants program is made up of three different themes, community development, cultural development and festivals & events.

Rochelle Dennis, me and Marina Dennis representing BCAP and the Belgrave Lantern Festival. A wonderful community festival that goes from strength to strength.

It is a program that continues to be oversubscribed every year and this year we saw an overwhelming 83 applications lodged with 51 projects successfully accessing funding.

Farndons Hall received a grant to assist with their centenary celebrations. 1910 to 2010, a great history and quite a battle for survival too.

Grant recipients from the Dandenong Ranges include:
Belgrave Survival Day 2011
Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association
Belgrave Lantern Parade
Hillside Film Festival
Farndon’s Hall centenary celebrations
Dandenong Ranges Music Council Kidzsongs
Tucker in the Tin Shed
See Through Me Skate Park Photo project
Selby Community House for a music and arts festival
Transition Towns Sherbrooke
Kallista Primary School Interlink program
Upwey Billy Cart Races