In response to community organisations experiencing hardships through increased costs and volunteer shortages, the office of Noosa MP Sandy Bolton has this year has used 30 per cent of its operating budget for QuickStart/Emergency Grants.
“In previous years, we have funded programs to assist our youth access sports and other major initiatives via our ‘Seeds for Change’ Grants, as well utilised the amount for emergency accommodation and the ‘Be: Noosa Connect-SCUH Transport Pilot’ to transport vulnerable residents to hospital treatments who were ineligible for other subsidies,” Ms Bolton said.
“The last 12 months have again been challenging for many of our organisations, and these small emergency relief grants make a real difference until governments develop better funding assistance models in response to these challenges.”
State Members of Parliament have a set amount of funds allocated to operate their electorate offices for the purchase of equipment, mail outs, community event hosting as well as other ‘day to day’ expenses. MPs can also use these funds for advertising on billboards, newspapers and radio, which Ms Bolton has never supported as she believes where possible these funds should be used to benefit the residents of the electorate rather than the office bearer with her and her staff being extremely frugal to ensure there is direct monetary aid available each year.
“Our volunteer organisations need as much support as possible and often miss out on other funding avenues, as do our volunteers who give of their skills and time free of charge. Both have been impacted by cost-of-living increases including for fuel to deliver assistance to our community, and this is our small way of acknowledging their sacrifices and the amazing work they do,” Ms Bolton said.
Thirty small organisations from beach to bush who deliver support or services to our electorate were successful in their applications, with Tewantin Noosa Meals on Wheels and Pomona Community House being two of these.
Tewantin-Noosa Meals on Wheels spokeswoman Joanna Cunningham-Pettet said: “It was so wonderful to be able to give our volunteer meal delivery drivers a voucher towards their fuel, which is now extremely expensive. Our drivers deliver as far south as Marcus and Castaways Beach, west to Eumundi and Cooroy, and east to Lake Catharaba and Boreen Point. This will go a long way in providing services to those who need it most.”
Pomona Community House community engagement coordinator Susan Schiotz said: “this funding will support us to provide emergency relief, by keeping a fully stocked community pantry including food, women hygiene products, pet foods, and school lunch box staples, as well to provide vouchers to our most vulnerable.”
Assistance was also provided to Cooran Organic Gardens, Cooroora Netball, Katie Rose Hospice, Kin Kin Community Group, Pomona Mens Shed, Noosa FM, Noosa Pipe Band, Noosa Basketball, Noosa Softball, NICA, Noosa Lions Football, Noosa Model Flyers, Noosa Rugby Union, Noosa Sea Scouts, Noosa Swimming, Noosa Water Polo, Peregian Tennis, Pomona Chamber of Commerce, Pomona/ Cooroy AFC. PTSD Dogs, Cooroy Rotary, Sunshine Butterflies, Tewantin Noosa Lions, Tewantin Noosa Pony Club, Noosa Salvation Army, Urban Wildlife Gardens, Waves of Kindness and Wildlife Australia.
