Six schools across the Burnett region will share almost $150,000 thanks to the latest round of gambling grants.
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund is Queensland’s largest one-off grants program, distributing about $53 million a year.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said successful schools included Burnett Heads, Avondale, Rosedale, Kolan South, Childers and Elliott Heads State School.
Mr Bennett welcomed the announcement and congratulated the schools.
“These school communities are worthy recipients and the funds allow them to upgrade important facilities including playgrounds and equipment, the installation of shade structures, tuckshop facilities and the installation of air-conditioning,” he said.
He said Kolan South State Schools P&C Association received a significant amount from the grant to construct a covered play complex for the students, which was desperately needed.
Rosedale State School will use the funds to create an ANZAC memorial.
“It’s a real boost for these schooling communities, which desperately need these facilities,” he said.
Mr Bennett said schools weren’t the only successful non-profit organisations to be rewarded from the latest round of funding, with Camp Gregory Veterans’ Retreat receiving more than $34,000 to upgrade its retreat facilities.
“I congratulate the community organisations who took the time to complete the often time consuming applications for these grants,” he said. Mr Bennett said the quarterly grants allowed profits from gambling to be invested back into grassroots services and facilities that benefited people from all walks of life in the local community.
“In some communities, organisations find it difficult to fundraise, and funding programs such as this give them an opportunity to access much needed financial assistance to turn their ideas and projects into a reality,” he said.
Mr Bennett encouraged all community organisations and clubs to apply for future funding under the program.
[ENDS] 28 September 2015 Media Contact: 07 4111 5100