Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton met with members of the Coolah Men’s Shed last week to announce their grant for $3,500, which they will use to purchase matching work shirts, as well as PPE and First Aid equipment.

Volunteers in the Parkes electorate will be rewarded with an early Christmas gift, sharing in more than $100,000 funding under the latest round of the Federal Government’s Volunteer Grants program.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton was thrilled to announce a total of $109,475 in funding for 30 community organisations in the Parkes electorate.

“Congratulations to each and every one of the successful groups who have received a much-needed boost just in time for Christmas,” Mr Coulton said.

“Volunteers play a vital role in shaping this electorate; they give countless hours of their time for the betterment of their communities and this funding will enable them to continue their great work.

“These past two years have been particularly challenging for our volunteer organisations, whose access to volunteers and ability to fundraise has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, so I know these grants will be especially welcomed this year.”

The 2021 Volunteer Grants provide organisations with grants of $1,000 to $5,000 to help purchase equipment, training and background screening checks for their volunteers.

Volunteers are integral to many Australian organisations, with more than 8.7 million volunteers across the country giving their time freely to support their communities.

Parkes electorate 2021 Volunteer Grants recipients:

• ABA Dubbo Group (Australian Breastfeeding Association) – $3,500
• Baradine Pastoral, Agricultural and Horticultural Association – $2,030
• Binnaway Bombshells Rugby League Football Club – $5,000
• Broken Hill Community FM Association Incorporated (2DRY FM) – $1,515
• Broken Hill Historical Society Inc – $5,000
• Community Transport Warren Incorporated – $4,800
• Coolah District Development Group Incorporated – $4,500
• Coolah Men’s Shed Incorporated – $3,500
• Coonamble Meals on Wheels – $4,000
• Creatives Collective ARI Incorporated (Coonabarabran) – $1,000
• CWA of NSW – Armatree Branch – $2,470
• Dubbo City Speedway Club Incorporated – $5,000
• Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Incorporated – $5,000
• Dubbo Rivercare Group Incorporated – $2,000
• Dubbo RSL Diggers Swimming Club – $2,900
• Gilgandra Rural Museum and Historical Society Incorporated – $1,500
• Gunnedah Meals on Wheels Corporation – $5,000
• Gwydir Industries Incorporated – $4,615
• Hear our Heart Ear Bus (Dubbo) – $4,000
• Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast – $5,000
• Lightning Ridge Piranhas Swim Club – $2,000
• Dubbo Meals on Wheels – $2,500
• Narrabri Shire Community Radio Incorporated (2Max FM) – $3,515
• National Association for Loss and Grief (Dubbo) – $5,000
• Police Citizens Youth Clubs NSW Ltd (PCYC Dubbo) – $4,015
• Scouts NSW – Broken Hill – $5,000
• Third Space Community Connect (Narromine) – $5,000
• Tooraweenah PA & H Association Incorporated – $5,000
• Tottenham Welfare Council Incorporated – $1,815
• Warren Meals on Wheels Incorporated – $3,300