Year in review (2023)

Written By Liz Kelleher

It is now December 2023 and a time for the board of the Community Foundation for Tumut Region to reflect on some very special achievements for our small foundation that services the area known as the Snowy Valleys.  Population 14,000

Since the fires of 2019/20 the foundation extended its reach following the trail of devastation left by the Dunns Road Green Valley and Ournie fires and as such has become a significant member of the area. The local philanthropic organisation that makes a difference.

Our various programs include.

  • The Resilience Project (TRP) in most of the local schools

    Funding received through the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network.

  • Fireshed Fridays and High Teas.

    Funding Global Giving and Murrumbidgee primary health network

  • Coordinated the publication of book of recollections and memories of the fires in the Tumbarumba district. Tumbarumba Under Siege

    Funding Global Giving and Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR)

  • UHF Handsets - CFTR donated 125 UHF handsets to individuals in remote areas who have been identified with poor or no direct phone particularly mobile reception during the disaster when communication was paramount as was the case during the fires.

    Funding received through the Vinnies Bush Fire Appeal Grants to purchase 100 handsets and 25 handsets through funding from Global Giving

 

In addition to the programs

  • Members participated in the monthly ZOOM meets when available with Community Foundations Australia.

  • Representatives from our foundation attended the philanthropy summit at Parliament House Canberra.

  • In collaboration with Community Foundations Australia, provided details of the foundation to demonstrate the need to revise the tax structure to enable all foundations across Australia to have DG1 facility. This requires official government legislation and once legislated will provide the foundations with the ability to act immediately in disaster and need for tax deductable fundraising, that will help local communities recover.

    NB this proposal is has now reached government level and is under review.

  • Provided a special tax deductable fundraising facility for the proposed adventure/bike park on Mount Tumbarumba.

    Provided cooler bags for Tumbarumba primary school for the students’ lunches. Lunches are made in another school and then transported to the school.

    Funding Global Giving

  • Donated 4 firefighter pumps to four brigades plus additional storage for one brigade.

    Funding Global Giving

  • CFTR funded $15,000.00 towards a mobile lighting tower to the Riverina Highlands Rural Fire Service.

    Funding from Global Giving

  • Donated at the high teas 120 $50,00 Let’s Get Planting gift vouchers to be used at the local garden centres.

    Funding U S Donor and Global Giving

  • Supported the local and wider community in their collective effort in having extensive proposed overhead high voltage power lines installed underground. by way of submission to government. Also, reps attended various forums.

  • Funded signage infrastructure for the Wellness Trail in bush fire effected villages and towns.   

    Funding Global Giving

 

Award

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network 2023 Primary Healthcare Awards:

CFTR was the winner in the section ‘Murrumbidgee Community grant of the Year’ for Fireshed Fridays and High teas.

 

Extraordinary opportunity

Opportunity to attend the philanthropic conference # Shift the Power treehouse in Bogota Colombia. The board are delighted to have Diana Palmer our friend and Ambassador of the foundation attend.

Funding Global Fund for Community Foundations

 

New sub fund created

Sub fund for Tumbarumba Youth has been created within and managed by the foundation tow Tumbarumba residents have been invited to help manage the fund.

Funding proceeds from the book sales Tumbarumba Under Siege

Forthcoming Event   February 2024

Geraldine Doogue in conversation with international and bestselling author of the

Well Gardened Mind Sue Stuart Smith

Discussion will centre around the benefits of nature and gardening for many impacted by disasters and trauma.

Funding Global Giving

Ongoing programs and projects

  • Resilience diaries/journals and support material to all local school’s emphasis on bush fire effected students /schools

  • Funding Global Giving    

  • Fireshed Fridays as and when requested.

  • Glove box guide to getting ready for disasters.

Liz Kelleher