GRANTS totalling $500,000 have been awarded to community groups, public and not-for-profit organisations for projects to improve and develop infrastructure and services through the State Government’s Community Chest Fund.
The fund provides voluntary organisations, educational institutions and community organisations with grants of up to $50,000 to support local projects.
The grants include $50,000 for training yachts and a floating pontoon for disability sailing at Port Bouvard.
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READ NOWPort Bouvard Yacht Club Commodore John Hunt said Sailability was a nationwide program that encouraged people with disabilities to try sailing.
“Because our coordinator Gavin has a severely autistic son, he and his wife have for a long time been involved in disability support and she works locally with disability support groups so we have already managed to get two dozen applicants,’’ he said.
“Until today we could not say if we could actually launch the program.”
The club is buying two big trimarans with large cockpits that will accommodate up to five adults so people with disabilities and their carers can be on board at the same time.
With the balance of money, the club will buy a pontoon system which can be configured in various ways and which will eventually include a dock capable of holding wheelchairs.
Other grant recipients include North Yunderup Community Association – rope climber adventure net ($39,231), Shire of Waroona – emergency management centre generator ($50,000), Ravenswood Sanctuary Model Boat Club Inc – wharf replacement ($1760), Waroona Bowling and Social Club Inc – shade protection and fencing ($24,020), St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Waroona – basketball court shade area ($10,000), Waroona Golf Club – roof sheeting replacement and kitchen upgrade ($22,000), City of Mandurah – Common Threads Wearable Art ($38,504), Mandurah Philatelic Society – 2016 Philatelic Show ($10,000), Access and Inclusion For All, Mandurah Community Gardens ($15,484), Mandurah and Peel Tourism Organisation Inc – Tourism brand and campaign creation ($15,000), Forest Heritage Centre, Dwellingup – emu directional walk trail ($35,350), Murray Districts Aboriginal Association, Pinjarra – Binjareb Park tourism enterprise ($32,500), Shire of Murray – Dwellingup Tourist Precinct play space shade sails($39,680), Port Bouvard Recreation and Sporting Club Inc – Sailability sail training program ($50,000), Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Business Growth Series ($30,000).