Broadford Scout Group has upgraded its hall with stronger and more durable furniture, with the assistance of a grant from the Australia Rail Track Corporation, ARTC.
The group received $2074 to purchase foldaway chairs, tables and a storage cart, upgrading from its old worn-out furniture to make the Scout Hall more comfortable and easier to use.
Broadford Scouts secretary Tanya Maiwald said the group was thankful to have received the grant to support its activities.
“While $2000 doesn’t sound like much, to us it meant we could dispose of our rickety and falling-over benches and tables,” she said.
“Getting any amount of money as a community group is really, really hard, and even for such basic things as our tables and chairs, it’s just really difficult.
“The grant enabled us to update all of our furniture in one swoop, we acknowledge the support of Inland Rail for this grant.”
The grant not only supports the Scout Group, however, as the furniture has also been used at community events around Broadford due to its durability and ease of use.
“We had them for a camp at Mount Piper, we had them for the barbecue at the high school for the referendum, we use them for fundraising – it’s great and it just gives a new-look to the hall,”
“Two thousand dolllars is not a lot of money, but our main income is the sale of sausages and that’s a whole lot of sausages you need to sell to get that sort of money.
“We would not have been easily able to pay for new furniture for that amount, at least not all in one go without this grant, so we are really thankful and very happy.”
Broadford Scout Group also received $7031 for the refurbishment of its hall through round eight of the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities grants.
The program of nearly $150,000 in funding was announced in September this year, with Broadford Scouts joining 11 other community organisations across the Nicholls electorate in receiving a grant to enhance the social wellbeing of regional communities.
Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell said some of the grants were provided for facility upgrades to bring the meeting places of community organisations up to scratch.
“Not-for-profit community organisations are at the heart of regional communities,” he said.
“Every community project which expressed interest in these grants were of great value and would have enhanced the mental and physical wellbeing of our regions.”
