Community groups get funding boost

Several Katanning community groups were the beneficiaries of Federal volunteer funding last week as Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson toured the town making the announcements.

The Katanning Community Resource Centre received a grant of $4000, which is to be used to improve the working conditions of volunteers within an organisation.

Katanning CRC manager Julie Bucknell said the money would pay for the installation of two split-cycle air-conditioner units in the Community Harvest store.

“That building is arctic in the winter and pretty awful in the summer, too,” she said.

“The whole Community Harvest Store is run by volunteers and if they were made to work through the winter without heating, I think I might lose a couple who wouldn’t want to come back.”

The Katanning Netball Association, which also relies on volunteers to operate successfully, received $4500 of funding.

Katanning Netball Association treasurer Katherine Anderson said they were very excited to receive the money and it would be spent on office supplies, first-aid equipment and to cover the cost of training courses.

“Any support we can give to making things better and easier for our valued volunteers is so important to our association,” she said.

Last stop on the tour was the miniature railway in Katanning, which received a modest grant to help with the ongoing costs of running and maintaining the railway and trains.

Mr Wilson said volunteers were the lifeblood of regional communities.

“I thank all the volunteers of O’Connor, young and old, who contribute so much to the resilience and liveability of our cities, and towns, right though to our smallest communities,” he said.

“This year’s grant round will provide IT support to enhance the capability for our emergency services, fund first-aid training for sporting group members, and provide furniture, equipment and appliances for clubs, amongst others.”