$74,500 gift to Mackay community groups in need

Details of how the Mackay Community Foundation’s grants will boost five projects in the region

Trudy Crowley Foundation board member Jacqui Camilleri with the region's only ovarian cancer palliative care nurse Rosie Stannard. They are standing in front of Ms Stannard's new car funded by a $24,500 grant from the Mackay Community Foundation. Picture: Heidi Petith

THE Mackay Community Foundation has gifted $74,500 in funding to five community organisations which will help kickstart grassroots projects.

The Trudy Crowley Foundation received $25,000 to purchase a new car for Mackay's only ovarian cancer palliative care nurse Rosie Stannard who is based at the Icon Cancer Centre.

Board member Jacqui Camilleri said the MCF should be proud of its tremendous contributions.

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Ms Stannard, who grew up in Alligator Creek, said she was "truly blessed" and it was "absolutely a privilege" to be helping cancer patients in Mackay.

The Mackay Community Foundation gifted $10,000 to headspace Mackay for their "Headspace Connections" program to be delivered to Years 7 to 12 students across Mackay. Pictured (from left): headspace Mackay's Jason Pelcher, MCF chair Frances Easton, headspace Mackay's Shane Sturdy and MCF board member Nick Bennett. Picture: Mackay Community Foundation.

Headspace Mackay youth worker Shane Sturdy said their $10,000 gift would go towards delivering the Headspace Connections mental health program to Year 7 to 12 Mackay students.

"I can tell you now, we've already got five schools who have put their hand up," Mr Sturdy said.

"I cannot thank the Mackay Community Foundation more as this is something we would not have been able to look at if they had not come to the party."

Mackay Community Foundation board members Greg Williamson, Jody Euler, Nick Bennett, and Adrienne Rourke with chair Frances Easton (centre). Picture: Heidi Petith

Another mental health wellbeing and suicide prevention organisation, selectability Mackay, received $20,000.

The Mackay Community Foundation gifted $20,000 to selectability Mackay. Pictured (from left) is selectability Mackay's general manager Chris Attard, MCF's chair Frances Easton and MCF board member Nick Bennett. Picture: Mackay Community Foundation.

selectability Mackay general manager Chris Attard said it would go towards their On Your Bike for Mental Health project.

"The first part is that members of the community who have a psychosocial disability can come together with their support worker, grab a bike, a helmet, and go for a ride.

"The second part's a workshop; we plan to get pre-loved bikes from the tip, bring them back and do them up … (it) focuses on team work and fine motor skills for those of us who are a bit more mechanical and hands-on in nature."

In front of the car is Icon Cancer Centre palliative care nurse Rosie Stannard and Trudy Crowley Foundation board member Jacqui Camilleri. On the front rows of the steps (from left) are ATSICHS finance manager Dr Maria Tyler, Mackay Community Foundation (MCF) board member Jody Euler, MCF board member Nick Bennett, Selectability Mackay general manager Chris Attard, Selectability Mackay's Debra Bur

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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay received $10,000 for its Clothing Closet program that provides free clothing to those in need.

Finance manager Dr Maria Tyler said 109 people had already accessed clothing including a newborn and a 73 year old.

The money would go towards purchasing a washing machine, dryer, hangers and clothes racks, Dr Tyler said.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) finance manager Maria Tyler with Orange Sky Mackay volunteer Lisa Jamieson at the Mackay Community Foundation grants' presentation. Picture: Heidi Petith

Orange Sky Australia was given $10,000 to install the organisation's first ever laundry pods right here in Mackay.

It will include three washing machines and dryers and six orange chairs.

Orange Sky Mackay volunteer Lisa Jamieson said the pod was currently being trialled at Sarina and they hoped to have it up and running in Mackay by October.

To learn more about the Mackay Community Foundation, visit their Facebook page.

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