Notably, in 2015 there was an increase in applications to support recreation facilities and arts and cultural events. Amongst the successful grant recipients, the average community size was 2,787 people and the most represented types of organisations were:

  • Recreation and sporting clubs,
  • Early childhood providers and educational institutions,
  • Community groups and progress associations,
  • Neighbourhood houses and community centres.

The grants were presented to recipients during a ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance on 23 July. The joint FRRR and Gardiner Dairy Foundation grants presentation event was well attended by grant recipients who appreciated hearing from FRRR Chair the Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC and the Gardiner Dairy Foundation Chair Michael Taylor AO. During the ceremony past grant recipients Rod Boon, Rotary Club Trafalgar, John Hyett, Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower Districts Men’s Shed and Tracy Gray, Port Fairy Consolidated Primary School, provided an updated on the progress of their projects since receiving their grants.

With the 2015 Working in Dairy Communities Small Grants program now complete, the planning process for the 2016 grants program will commence in November 2015.