Fonterra offers grass roots project funding

Fonterra is calling on community groups and organisations to seek funding through its annual Grass Roots Fund.

From veggie patches to cricket pitches and wet suits to fire safety, the fund is offering another round of funding for community projects in need of a helping hand.

Grants will be offered for projects between $500 and $5000 in value.

Fonterra Australia managing director René Dedoncker said the fund was about giving a helping hand to groups who keep local communities in good shape through a wide range of initiatives.

“The dairy industry is built from the ground up. The fund supports farming families and local communities.

“We’re lucky to have local communities with supporters who are prepared to organise events, dig gardens, volunteer for emergency services and coach kids’ sport.

“All these activities keep communities strong and the people in them healthy. By providing funds we’re supporting their work and giving back to the communities where we operate,” he said.

The Fonterra Grass Roots Fund has supported more than 340 initiatives since 2011, including the Friends of Mount Worth State Park volunteers who work with park rangers and hold regular working bees to keep walking tracks clear through the giant forest and fern gullies for nature lovers to enjoy.

Funding helped the group secure mowing and trailer equipment to keep the longer tracks open for bushwalkers, trail runners and nature lovers.

Paul Strickland from Allambee, who submitted the funding application for the friends group said the Fonterra fund helped to kickstart fundraising efforts to secure the equipment.

“Without the voluntary efforts of the friends, many of the trails couldn’t be kept open for people to enjoy this unique area of bushland.

“Our new equipment helps us to maintain the tracks more easily and deal with fallen brush and path repairs,” he said.

Mr Strickland encouraged community groups to apply for funds.

Successful applicants are decided by a committee at Fonterra Darnum who assess how the initiatives bring communities together, support healthy lifestyles and care for the environment.

Applications close on December 15.