The Collgar Community Fund (CCF) Committee met on 29 March 2023 and approved four Level 2 community applications for Quarter 1 2023. A Level 2 application is anything over $2,500 and applications are considered on a quarterly basis.
Collgar is pleased to confirm the Level 2 funding recipients for the first quarter in 2023 are;
This plaque is installed above the town of Toodyay, with clear view overlooking the hills, river, valley & town. Visitors can read and become aware of their surroundings from a Noongar perspective. Information highlights creation time, six bonar (seasons) & presence of three Noongar tribes (Yued, Ballardong & Whadjuk). Photo courtesy of the NKAC.
Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation (NKAC), Noongar Trail, Noongar Six Seasons
NKAC is a small, dynamic Aboriginal group based in Toodyay, and has been active in the community for the past five years. The NKAC’s main aim is to promote and share local Noongar heritage and culture. While this is undertaken during NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week, and working closely with the schools and other groups, their main activity is creating permanent Noongar cultural information and signage with the Shire region.
NKAC has recently launched the Gnulla Karnany Waangkiny (Our Truth Telling) project as well as a series of Noongar interpretation art projects at key locations and heritage sites during the past three years, including at Gnulla Moort (Our Families) at Redbank Pool; Gnulla Boodja (Our Country) at Pelham Lookout; 'A Spiritual & Mythological Wagyl Place' at the edge of the Gugulaja (Avon River) along with others. These will now be joined together to form the developing Noongar Trail.
This grant has been awarded for the purpose of helping the NKAC with their key location 7, Noongar Six Seasons walk trail. It is intended that when complete there will be a walk trail, self-drive or guided tour where people can visit a number of important Noongar places around town and surrounds. This trail will have eleven sites in total, all close to town.
How amazing! Collgar embraces and celebrates initiatives like these as they have a real and meaningful lasting impact in the community.
Gnulla Moort (Our Family) opening, Redbank Pool on the Bilya Walk Track . Art work on the walking track showing how Noongar people went about daily activities 200 years ago. Photo courtesy of the NKAC.
Westonia CRC: Old Westonia Picture Theatre Upgrade
The Westonia Community Resource Centre is a community owned business that provides business and government services to the community.
Since refurbishing the Old Miners Hall and Picture Theatre in 2000, the picture theatre has not only shown movies but has been used for countless community ceremonies such as Anzac Day ceremonies, inaugural occasions such as honorary freeman presentations and many community members funerals.
This grant has been awarded to upgrade the picture theatre projector and infrastructure as the system is now quite outdated and has progressively become harder and harder to use with current technology.
Collgar is very pleased to support the Westonia CRC in upgrading their loved Picture Theatre and hall, and is certain it will be beneficial to many people in the Westonia community.
Meridian Regional Arts Inc: Slow Dusk— a Community Collaborative Sculpture Project
Meridian Regional Arts Inc is a not-for-profit arts organisation based in Merredin WA created to connect the community through art opportunities. Offering workshops, all-in-community collaborative art projects, and community-designed and painted Murals, Meridian aims to create as many opportunities as possible for the Central Wheatbelt community to come together, create, share, and build connections.
Since its establishment in 2020, Meridian has run 2 years of successful arts programming in Merredin with over 500 participants in 2023 across 11 different engagements, with their youngest participant being 4 and their oldest 100 years old! In 2022 Meridian received funding from Collgar Communities fund for the all-in-community collaborative project Paint with Light, which had over 200 participants and received an overwhelmingly positive public response.
Community collaborative Paint with Light Initiative . Photo acknowledgment Meridian Regional Arts.
This grant has been awarded for the purpose of facilitating two weeks of artist-in-residency activity in Merredin which will later lead to the creation of pieces of locally made public art.
Throughout the 2-week residency period the general public will experience eight workshops, and local artists will experience eight professional development workshops and two artist talks. These experiences are designed to allow the community to participate in the process of designing and making works of outdoor sculpture from unusual materials, led by Award Winning WA Artist Mikaela Castledine, and Local Artist Chloe Flockart, who has had work featured across cultural institutions of WA from AGWA to WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Collgar loves supporting the arts, and is so glad to be a part of such a wonderful initiative that brings together the community is such a positive way.
Shire Of Kellerberrin: 2/28th Battalion Park Upgrade, Kellerberrin
This project focusses on the establishment of a new park being established in honour of the 2/28th Battalion, with picnic and BBQ facilities in Kellerberrin. The park is currently in its early stages with young trees and shrubs already in place ready for Winter 2023.
This area will also include two dog exercise compounds with parking to suit caravaners and or larger vehicles. Vehicle parking is already established for the visitor or tourist with two approved disabled bays and parking for up to 20 vehicles. This former railway marshalling yard will be converted into a suitable rest down facility adjacent to Centenary park picnic and skate park.
This grant is to help towards the purchase of a new stainless steel public BBQ for the park that is wheelchair accessible.
Collgar is excited to help the Shire towards the refurbishment and establishment of the 2/28th Battalion Park as it will facilitate so much benefit for the community and tourists alike.
Well done to all grant recipients!
If you would like more information or to download an application please visit: www.collgarwindfarm.com.au/communities .