Photo Caption: Member for Parkes Mark Coulton is pictured with Colleen Fuller, Gunnedah Meals on Wheels, which is one of the many community groups in the Parkes electorate receiving a Volunteer Grant under the latest round.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said he is thrilled that volunteers in his electorate will be rewarded with a $64,800 funding boost to local community groups, under a new round of the Federal Government’s Volunteer Grants program.
“Volunteering has a strong presence throughout the Parkes electorate – whether it be helping out with local sporting teams and land care groups, responding to natural disasters and emergencies, or helping local charities to support some of our most disadvantaged people,” Mr Coulton said.
“While the work of our volunteers may be unpaid, it is not unrecognised. If you are a volunteer, your generosity and commitment to the community does not go unnoticed.
“From fighting bushfires, delivering food to vulnerable Australians in isolation and helping out with weekend sport, you are all local champions.
“These are small grants with a big impact – the Baradine Campdraft Association, Coonamble Meals on Wheels, and Tibooburra and District Progress Association are just a few examples from the great list of local recipients which I know will do wonderful work with this funding.”
Mr Coulton said the funding injection coincides with National Volunteer Week being celebrated this week (18 – 24 May).
The Australian Government has invested $9 million in Volunteer Grants for 2019-20 in recognition of the valuable role volunteers play in building more resilient and cohesive communities and supporting individual participation in community life. The awarded grants are between $1,000 and $5,000.
Nationally, volunteering has an estimated annual economic and social contribution of $290 billion.
Parkes electorate recipients – 2019-20 Volunteer Grants
| Recipient | Funding Amount | Town |
| Baradine Campdraft Association Incorporated | $3,210 | Baradine |
| Group 14 Junior Rugby League Incorporated | $5,000 | Baradine |
| Binnaway Bowling Club Co-operative Limited | $3,800 | Binnaway |
| Silverlea Early Childhood Services Incorporated | $5,000 | Broken Hill |
| Cobar Youth Council | $1,750 | Cobar |
| Warrumbungle Community Care | $4,500 | Coonabarabran/Coolah |
| Coonamble Meals on Wheels Association Incorporated | $4,000 | Coonamble |
| Orana Physical Culture Incorporated | $1,490 | Dubbo |
| Gunnedah Meals on Wheels Association Incorporated | $5,000 | Gunnedah |
| Lake Cargelligo Show Society Inc | $2,500 | Lake Cargelligo |
| Moree & District Historical Society Incorporated | $5,000 | Moree |
| Narrabri Shire Community Radio Incorporated | $3,600 | Narrabri |
| Nyngan Junior Rugby League Incorporated | $3,000 | Nyngan |
| Sunset Strip Conservation Inc | $3,450 | Sunset Strip |
| Tibooburra & District Progress Assoc Inc | $5,000 | Tibooburra |
| Warren Meals on Wheels Incorporated | $4,000 | Warren |
| St Vincent de Paul Society NSW (St Andrew’s Conference) | $4,500 | Wee Waa |
