Drought-affected community organisations in Queensland are being encouraged to apply for funding from the RACQ Foundation to help get themselves back up and running.
RACQ Foundation spokesperson Renee Smith says the drought has had devastating effects on many organisations’ ability to deliver critical services to regional communities.
“With more than 80 percent of the state affected by the ongoing drought, bringing the community together is more important than ever,” Smith says.
“Community organisations can apply for funding from the RACQ Foundation of up to $50,000 and up to $200,000 in exceptional circumstances.”
The RACQ Foundation was established after the 2011 floods to help community groups in Queensland recover from severe weather events. More than 160 community groups have received more than $7 million in funding to date.
Applications for the current round of RACQ Foundation funding close on 31 January 2017, and the form can be downloaded from the RACQ website.
Here are a few examples of how local community groups have been helped:
- The Queensland Country Women’s Association received $50,000 to support drought-affected Queenslanders through its Public Rural Crisis Fund.
- The Laidley community is continuing to host cattle and horse events at the local showgrounds after $25,000 flood repairs.
- Under the Apprenticeships Queensland program, funded with a $200,000 payment from the RACQ Foundation, apprentices, trainees and local tradespeople helped more than 30 low-income home owners and their families repair flood damage.
- The volunteer fire brigade at the Upper Lockyer township of Murphy’s Creek has a new headquarters with an extra room for training and meetings built with a $120,000 RACQ Foundation donation.