Projects suggested for the PWF Community Gift Competition – a cross section

There were a huge number of really worthwhile projects suggested during the competition month. Following are just a few:

-Chairs and tables for Jindivik’s Kydd-Parke Reserve. The town won a ‘2004 Small Towns Grant’ – a barbecue was built and some small jobs were done but the Shire ran out of funds to provide tables and chairs, so it’s a case of ‘BYO’ for all community events/sporting/family events at this the only reserve and sports ground. Visitors have nowhere to sit.

-Workshops for small volunteering organisation that would help them learn how to better access funding opportunities. recruit and retain volunteers, run meetings etc – all the things small community organisations need to know but often don’t know!

-Materials for a new climbing frame for children at a community centre where people are working at rekindling some of the spirit of earlier years. The old frame has to come down for health and safety reasons. There are plenty of willing hands and a new frame will help bring together people with children.

-A sign to inform visitors to a community house indigenous garden about local species selected and where they can be bought for private gardens. The aim of the garden is to both improve the aesthetics of the site and be an educational resource showing how to have a beautiful garden with low water needs.

-A Youth Forum, to be run by the local Council, to work out what entertainment could be provided in an area where there is nothing for young people to do.

-Buying basic school resources for refugees at Fairfield Public School – hats, uniform, pencil cases, writing paper and picture dictionaries/bilingual dictionaries.

-Keep Kambalda Junior Bootscooters group alive, getting them to ‘hoedowns’ etc. It’s hard keeping activities going for kids in small communities. The teachers volunteer their time and help out with fundraising to keep costs down for the parents.

-Continue the work within the Whitehouse Church community helping African families who have fled their homelands due to war and poverty.

-Donate it to the Bush Fire Brigade.

-Coochin Creek Rural Fire Brigade in dire need to continue its service to the Sunshine Coast.

-Put on a ball for the youth of Mt Eliza.

-Put on a Christmas party for all our wonderful volunteers.

-Help the Port Hedland Environmental Group that monitor turtles who nest on the town beach.

-Buy Met Transport Tickets for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in West Melbourne. There are 2000 needing to access basic and essential services. Without Social Security Payments and lacking the right to work they have no income and cannot afford public transport to easily access food, medical and legal aid.

-Buy timber for our heritage lsited railway station.

-To Royal Flying Doctor Service to help repair the Dongara airstrip after hoodlums drove their cars into it and tore it up. An emergency soon after meant that the patient had to be moved 64kms to another airstrip.