Dalby Lions Club, Farm Angels among recipients of Arrow Energy grants

Community groups, charities, sporting clubs, schools and other not-for-profit organisations who do so much for the Western Downs have received a leg up thanks to the latest round of Arrow Energy grants.

Dalby SHS Principal Dean Russell with the Matt Hughes Foundation's Janene Hughes and Michael Kelly.

Thirteen Western Downs community groups have received a share of $50,000 through the latest round of Arrow Energy’s Brighter Futures community grants program.

Launching in 2007, the program has invested millions of dollars in community projects providing grants of up to $5000 to charities, sporting clubs, schools and other not-for-profit organisations.

This years recipients include Dalby Family Support Association, Dalby Nursery and Preschool, Matt Hughes Foundation, Miles Regional Arts Council, Chinchilla Gymnastics, Condamine State School, Farm Angels, Oakey Freshwater Fish Stocking Association, LifeFlight, Dalby Circles of Care, Miles Ambulance and Dalby Lions Club.

Arrow Energy Community Officer Jayne Weier with Dalby Nursery and Preschool Director Sarah O’Connor.

One of this year’s recipients, the Matt Hughes Foundation, are using their grants to offer bursaries for Dalby State High School students with Dalby State High Principal Dean Russell saying it would be life-changing for students.

“The Matt Hughes Foundation supports our school in a few different ways, but probably the most impressive, inspirational is supporting our year 11 and 12 students who are experiencing disadvantage,” he said.

“For many of our students, it’s literally life-changing to attend excursions, participate in sporting events or have multiple sets of school uniforms in winter. For many of them, it’s a brand-new experience.”

Meanwhile, the Dalby Lions Club are using the grant to subsidise membership fees for the Dalby Girl Guides Association, as they approach their 100th anniversary.

“It would be sad to see them fold before reaching that milestone,” Lions Club president Bec Knight said.

Dalby Girl Guides’ President Bec Knight and Guide Leader Kathy Crump.

Dalby Nursery and Preschool director Sarah O’Connor said they were using their Brighter Futures grant to upgrade their centre.

“The area we want to improve currently has pool fencing, so we’re going to install more Colorbond fencing, which will be safer for the children and create a more uniform look,” she said.

Arrow Energy community officer Jayne Weier congratulated this year’s recipients.

“We seek projects that are meaningful to us and our communities – capacity building initiatives that help ensure the communities where we operate continue to thrive,” she said.

“This year’s recipients certainly fit the bill, ranging from bursaries for high school students to environmental and cultural initiatives like fish restocking and circus workshops.

“We’re proud to champion such a variety of innovative projects and are excited to see the positive difference they’ll make.”