For recipients of grants from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), it seems it’s the small changes that can make a big difference to communities. In rural NSW, 17 local towns are seeing small upgrades with long-lasting local impacts.  

In the tiny village of Coolabah, while maintenance may seem simple, gaining sufficient attention for the needs of a small population is not. The benefits of recent funding for a ride on lawnmower for the community are two-fold, working to reduce bushfire hazards and helping to beautify the community grounds. 

While access to a ride-on lawn mower seems obvious in larger localities, it was only once the town had secured funding that they could purchase the new equipment. 

Across Australia, similar small grants have been awarded to rural communities, helping to conquer the detailed challenges that consistently present themselves. 

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal CEO Natalie Egleton says the wide applications reflect the challenges that smaller communities have in securing sufficient funding. 

“Around a third of the communities that applied have fewer than 500 people,” Ms Egleton said. 

The current context of the pandemic has only heightened issues, putting a pin in usual fundraising opportunities for small towns. 

“With the ongoing impacts of disasters, including fires, floods, and drought, and of course the restrictions of COVID, local fundraising has been a challenge, so we’re delighted to be able to fund these important community projects, and help relieve the pressure that many groups are under.” Ms Egleton said. 

The Western Plains community of Coonamble has also received funding under the grant, where over $4,000 will see a set of monkey bars installed at Coonamble Pre School. 

The monkey bars are an addition to the physical education equipment of the Coonamble Preschool, said to support school readiness and fine motor development of children. 

The small requests in local communities are reflective of the difficulties that smaller communities have in drawing attention to localised issues. Some of the funding requests were well under the $5,000 limit at just under a thousand dollars, only further reiterating the support that rural towns are crying out for.

The grant, which was developed in partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions, is delivering 57 similar small grants across the country, each directed towards projects that will create long-term positive outcomes that benefit and strengthen local communities.