Community
5 December, 2025
Big win for communities in council grants
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has supported a total of 22 community organisations over the past quarter under the Ready Now Grants program.
Councillors were presented with a report on the approved grant applications from July to September this year at last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council.
The Ready Now Grants program is designed to be flexible and responsive to community needs, with grants up to $500 available and approvals delegated to the chief executive officer for fast funding.
The program is aimed towards projects and activities supporting community inclusion and participation and providing equipment, facilities and public spaces appropriate for community use
Among the recipients were ten applications from Camperdown, Derrinallum, Lismore, Darlington and Skipton.
Lake Bookaar Recreation Reserve received $500 in July for a community meal for family families.
Skipton Golf and Bowls Club were granted $500 for new food equipment in August.
The Camperdown Toy Library also received funding in August, with $500 going towards STEM focused toys.
Darlington Mechanics Institute and Recreation Reserve were able to purchase a kitchen cabinet for the hall in September thanks to a $500 grant.
Camperdown Cycling Club were also recipients of funding through Ready Now in September, receiving $500 to go towards cycle signs.
Five community groups applied for funding through this program for RUOK Day events across the Camperdown area, including Corangamite Hockey Club ($250, August), Skipton Progress Association ($200, August), Skipton Community Shop ($200, August), Derrinallum Mahjong and Lismore Garden Club ($200, September) and Rotary Club of Camperdown ($200, September).
Four additional applications were received – two were ineligible applicants and two were for ineligible expenses.
The funding delivered to all the groups totalled $6800, inclusive of other $2000 handed out as part of council’s promotion of RUOK Day.
Councillor Nick Cole moved the motion, saying the program was “excellent” for community groups who needed access to funds quickly.
“These small things mean a lot to a small community,” he said.
“A lot of small communities are struggling to raise funds at the moment – everything seems to have tightened up a lot.
“We still have $18,200 to go, so there is plenty of money to access if someone has something they’re thinking about doing.
“They’re only small amounts of money, but please put in for it and get the money there and the job done.
“Use local tradies as much as possible and shop locally.”
Councillor Ruth Gstrein seconded the motion, sharing Cr Cole’s views on the importance of volunteer community organisations.
“A lot of really good projects and equipment being purchased, and I agree people are certainly doing it much harder as a committee organisation, particularly volunteers,” she said.
“They need to be spending the work delivering programs, not fundraising.
“I’d like to note a significant number of projects were awarded money for the RUOK Day, so that’s a really good initiative.”