Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (centre) pictured with Gilgandra Museum Vice President Phil Howard and President Max Zell in front of the old signage which will be replaced thanks to a $14,300 grant.

Promotion of the Gilgandra Museum will be enhanced thanks to a $14,300 Federal Government grant.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton yesterday met with members of the Gilgandra Museum to discuss their successful grant, provided under Round 6 of the Coalition Government’s Stronger Communities Programme (SCP).

“I am incredibly pleased to help such a wonderful community organisation like the Gilgandra Museum to install new signage,” Mr Coulton said.

“The Gilgandra Museum is a key tourist attraction for Gilgandra, run solely by local volunteers. Like many tourism operators across the country, the museum has suffered as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

“This funding will be used to paint the northern exterior shed wall and install new signage to help attract more visitors by capturing the attention of people travelling along the highway.

“Volunteer organisations in the Parkes electorate are pivotal to our local communities, and this program certainly goes some way to supporting them and the terrific work they do.”

Gilgandra Museum President Max Zell said the new signage will compliment the new branding of the museum, previously known as the Gilgandra Rural Museum.

“The signs will be much more user-friendly, more attractive to look at and hopefully this will encourage more people to stop and visit the museum,” Mr Zell said.

Earlier this year, the Gilgandra Museum received $50,909 through the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) Tackling Tough Times Together program which they used to install new flooring, LED lights and an instant hot water system. They will also be installing a new kitchen and are working on establishing an audio system in the museum.

The Stronger Communities Programme provides each electorate with $150,000 to fund small capital projects.

An additional $28.2 million was provided in the 2021-22 Budget to extend the Stronger Communities Programme to a seventh round. More information about the SCP is available at www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Stronger-Communities-Programme.