$100k for huge town makeover

CUNNAMULLA will have new life breathed into it as part of Rural Aid’s Sustainable Community program’s $100,000 commitment to support a makeover of ten towns over a five-year period.

Rural Aid’s Farm Army of volunteers will spend a week in the town next year bringing a welcome financial injection to the town’s local businesses.

Secretary of the Cunnamulla Show Society Amy Palmer said the committee was inspired to apply for the funding to give the Cunnamulla showgrounds a much needed facelift.

“As you’re driving into Cunnamulla, the showgrounds are the first thing you see so we really wanted to give it a makeover and make it look loved,” she said.

With the Cunnamulla Show Society being one of the only privately owned ones in Queensland, they rely on funding and the tireless efforts of three committee members to ensure the town’s renowned events go ahead.

“It’s been a struggle over the years but we wanted to keep it (the committee) going because we believe in the tradition, so this funding will be a good boost to move forward,” Ms Palmer said.

“There was over 60 applications from all over Australia and they decide based on the vision we put forward. We highlighted how much the drought is affecting these small communities and how the funding would make things a bit better in these tough times.”

Ms Palmer said she hopes the makeover will attract more people into the town, which in turn will boost the economy.

“We hope to expand the space and make it a really nice venue so we can hold a few more events there,” she said.

“I felt like this is a new chapter for us and just couldn’t believe we were so lucky.”