AUSTRALIA'S leading philanthropic organisation, dedicated to serving rural and regional areas, toured northern NSW recently.

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal's (FRRR) chief executive officer Sylvia Admans included Ashford, Tingha, Yetman, Warialda, Inverell, Croppa Creek and Boggabilla on a three-day tour of projects it has funded in the region since it began seven years ago.

"It's been a great delight to see that the spirit of resilience and the values of community care are alive and well," Ms Admans said.

"It is important to visit rural communities to learn about the challenges they face so we can be aware of these when we are making our grants.

"Even though conditions look good in some of these areas following recent rains, I am very aware of the prolonged drought's long-term impacts on communities.

"I realise the difficulty they have in raising funds, but I have been really impressed with the way they are working to solve their own problems."

During her tour Ms Admans met with organisations that had applied for and received grants from FRRR's many projects.

These included Ashford Central School, $50 vouchers to prepare students to head back to school ($10,775); Ashford Library Rural Transaction Centre, books ($3000); Yetman Public School, shelter area ($4800); Delungra and District Development Council, roadside tourist picnic and barbecue area ($4000); Warialda Community Health Service, rehabilitation aides for the infirmed aged ($4857); Warialda Rural Fire Brigade, quality UHF radios and GPS ($2000); Gwydir Shire Council, Warialda toy library restroom for nursing parents ($1135); Croppa Creek Public School, school sign, books, first aid course for sport coaches ($5350); Croppa Creek Rural Fire Brigade, tank and pump ($3000); Boggabilla Central School, sports equipment shed ($9957); Inverell Shire Public Library, books for babies ($4000); Tingha Public School, $50 back-to-school vouchers for uniforms, etc, ($4500).

© 2007 Inverell Times

<< Back