Grants on the go for good local causes

Orange Ex Services Club is spreading the love around.

And a range of 23 community groups and individuals are the richer for their generosity. Recipients include organisations providing bikes for the disabled, computers for disadvantaged communities, and for two young trekkers to hike the Kokoda Track.

Orange Ex-Services' Club’s Community Committee Chairperson Ros Davidson: The Club has provided support for the local community for a number of years preceding the introduction of the Club Grants program in 1998.

The $123,000 worth of grants are a way for the Club to give back to the community; Club President Graham Gentles believes.

“Collectively we give back to the community about $400,000 every year,” he said. “Supporting these groups gives us great satisfaction as directors; these groups do a wonderful job. This is something that gives us pleasure to be involved in,” Mr Gentles said.

The Category I grants cover community welfare, social services, community development, employment assistance, and community health services. “They are also for projects aimed at improving the living standards of disadvantaged groups in the central west,” Mr Gentles said.

He said that the money is part of the Clubs NSW ClubGrants program designed to disburse money made from pokies and other gambling to important social causes.

“More than $100 million has been given out in Clubs grants around NSW last year,” he added.

Grants this year ranged from $35,000 to central west phone counselling service, Lifeline, down to $1000 each to community-based low-cost accommodation provider for the elderly, Abbeyfield; to Itinerant Support Teachers to purchase assessment kits for hearing-impaired children; and to Orange 2 Mainly Music for fun music sessions for young children.

Other grants included $5000 to Legacy for; $5000 to Orange Aboriginal Dance Group; $6000 for Orange sub-branch of the RSL; and more than $2000 for camping equipment for the Orange Youth Action Council.

The grants were announced at a special presentation evening at the Club with Orange Ex-Services' Club’s Community Committee Chairperson Ros Davidson pointing-out that the Club has provided support for the local community for a number of years preceding the introduction of the Club Grants program in 1998.

“The Orange Ex-Services’ is passionate about the Orange Community and it is with much pride we offer our support to organisations such as yours,” Ms Davidson said at the presentation.