At Summerland, we see the building and strengthening of our local communities as an integral part our business. As a community minded financial institution, we are proud to be able to give back to a number of worthy organisations that make a difference to people’s lives. The recipients of the most recent round of Community and Business Grants have been announced:
Bangalow Koalas
As a not-for-profit environmental organisation set up to protect and save our koala population in the Northern Rivers, the Bangalow Koalas are creating a koala wildlife corridor connecting Byron Bay and surrounds west towards Repentance Creek. By linking existing forage trees and habitat with new plantings, the organisation will be able to protect local koalas and provide “stepping stones” for them to move safely across the landscape.
Care-Ring Children’s Centre
Based in Goonellabah, this community-based child care centre will use their grant to update the centre’s vegetable garden and the outdoor play area. This will assist in teaching children about growing their own vegetables, water conservation and caring for the environment.
Dirawong Reserve
The organisation is managed by a group of community members to protect flora and fauna, to preserve Aboriginal and European cultural heritage and to provide access for passive recreation. Their brochures assist reserve visitors by explaining the environmental guidelines to be observed, how to minimise damage to iconic Aboriginal sites and explaining appropriate walking trails.
Eltham Public School P and C
The association supports the local school, enhancing the learning experiences of students. The grant will be used to create a butterfly garden within the school grounds and for students to attend a butterfly education excursion, enhancing their knowledge of how to protect the local environment.
Lismore Friendship Festival
The festival highlights Lismore’s links to its vibrant Italian heritage; from migrants, food, cultural activities, music and much more. There is something for everyone at the Piazza in the Park Festival scheduled for 21st June 2020, with an Italian flavour, your senses will be enticed by everything Italian.
RED Inc
This Lismore based organisation assists many in our local community and the surrounding region by providing a wide range of community services for those with a disability. The grant will be used to provide a specialised bed and lifter designed for someone in a wheelchair; enabling them to attend special programs and activities.
South Gundurimba Hall
The community hall is used throughout the year for a range of functions including birthday parties, local dances, funeral wakes, weddings, family get-togethers, community meetings and dance practice. The grant will be used to improve the catering options for all hall users from the community.
Wollongbar Alstonville Rugby Club
The rugby club provides an opportunity for locals to get together, learn new skills, mix with others and provide a safe environment for people to play an active sport and keep fit. The grant will be used to re-develop their local ground based in Wollongbar.
Business Grants
Container of Dreams
This community minded organisation is based in Tabulam, and their mission is to build and provide affordable housing to the neediest in the community. Through the business grant they received, they aim to reduce social isolation in the local region.
For Sage
Based on the Gold Coast, For Sage is a botanical dye business specialising in homewares and custom projects. Led from the heart, the brand strives to be as soft on the earth as possible. Each item is hand sewn and hand dyed in Bilinga, QLD. They hope to showcase how being kind to the earth can result in something beautiful and something to truly treasure. The grant they have received will go towards launching an online store in February 2020.
R and R Nursery
Founded in New Italy, R and R Nursery are setting up a wholesale garden centre specialising in the sansevieria – a plant which requires minimal water. Despite facing floods and more recently fires, their passion for developing an eco-friendly nursery has not wavered; and they have exciting plans for their future expansion.
