community grants night at yarra ranges

It was wonderful to join with my colleagues at the Yarra Ranges Community Grants Awards night. Community members and organisations from across the shire came together to receive their grants for an amazing range of projects.

Pictured here with myself are some of the community grant recipients from the Lyster Ward, I am always reminded of what a diverse, passionate and committed community we have in the Dandenong Ranges.

Here's Jordan, committee member from Belgrave Survival Day. Survival Day is a wonderful celebration of indigenous heritage and culture and it's survival since settlement.













Jackie and Vicki from the Southern Dandenong Landcare Group, along with the SDLG members, are a powerhouse in the local community. The SDLG interacts in so many ways with the local community, whether its a land assessment, helping with planting guides, doing revegetation or weed removal works, they are truly passionate and the region and the environment. SDLG were received a grant for their Awesome Ornithorhynkids Day, a day to learn about local waterways, the platypus and how we can help care for it's habitat and ongoing survival.

Selbyfest ran for the first time in 2011, it was wonderful festival and a great example of community involvement. It was terrific to be able to award Leanne and Karl with a community grant for Selbyfest 2012.

Vicki Boyle accepted the community grant award on behalf of the Belgrave South Community House. The house have been awarded a grant to run the All in Gardening project, a gardening group developed primarily for people with disabilities.

Jaime Snyder from Pocket Bonfire Productions received a community grant to run the Hillside Youth Film Festival. The festival is an annual youth focused film festival held in Belgrave, showcasing the best original short firms from emerging Victorian filmmakers.

Liz and Dianne from BRAG were pleased to receive a community grant to fund their Belgrave Historical Plaques and Walk project. The project will see a series of plaques displaying pictures and text showcasing Belgrave's past.

Other Lyster ward recipients include:
Sherbrooke U3A for Shared Learnings in U3As, a combined project with the Yarra Ranges U3A.
Irabrina Childhood Autism Services for the Outer Eastern Sibling Support Camp, to provide children 7-12 years old with a sibling with autism the opportunity to build understanding about autism.
Belgrave Community Arts Project for the Belgrave Lantern Parade, a community celebration of winter solstice.
Fernlea House for Fernlea House in the Valley, investigating a satellite service for palliative care.