Our Local Impact

How we have helped

  • Community Foundation Snowy Valleys Region created a special purpose account to raise tax deductible funds to assist in the purchase of the land on Mt Tumbarumba for the project. https://mttumbarumba.com.au/

  • Over a number of years we have facilitated the distribution of $50 back to school vouchers across the Snowy Valleys for school students of all ages to help with the essential items for school attendance - with the support of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

  • In partnership with the Tumut community, we deliver information and awareness about domestic violence.

  • Initially offered to all schools and preschools in the Snowy Valleys in partnership with the MPHN and has subsequently been funded by Community Foundation Snowy Valleys Region for two years. All but one school in the region has taken part in the program.

  • Item deWe initated and supported 25 FIRESHED FRIDAYS, an ongoing program taking dinners to local and remote fire sheds as a way of bringing local communities together and recognising their contribution and commitment to their local community.

  • Coordinated the publication of the Tumbarumba Writers Group Tumbarumba under siege. Profits from the book have created a grant for Tumbarumba Youth.

  • Advocating for the best long term community benefits for the community. This year’s Sydney Parliament House roundtable organise by the foundation and hosted by local members Dr Joe McGirr and Just Clancy called for an inquiry into long-term community benefits, a review of community engagement for large-scale projects, and an update to the NSW Benefit Sharing Guidelines. The Community Foundation Snowy Valleys remains committed to helping secure the best possible long-term outcomes for the communities it serves across the Snowy Valleys region.

Past Projects

Community Foundation Snowy Valleys Region has:

  • Purchased Cooler/heater bags for Tumbarumba Public school to transport prepared lunches from Tumbarumba High School.

  • Funded materials for the Stephanie Alexander garden and cooking program for All Saints school Tumbarumba

  • Partnered with NSW Rural Fire Service Association for the purchase of a mobile light tower to be used at community events and stage areas during disasters

  • Staged a fundraising even for the Jenni Crain Memorial Bursary

  • Provided gifts cards to purchase items from local suppliers to all locals impacted by the floodwaters of 2010 and 2012.

  • Run the Visy Small Grants Program - over three years, an annual grant program that delivered small grants to a wide range of local community groups to support the work being done by grass roots organisations for both immediate and long term benefit.

Bushfire Recovery

In 2020 the foundation launched a major bush fire appeal which facilitated the distribution of some 440 $500.00 gift cards to individuals and families that had been directly impacted by the fires of 2019-20. The cards were used at local suppliers and services within the Snowy Valleys

We initated and supported FIRESHED FRIDAYS, an ongoing program taking dinners to local and remote fire sheds as a way of bringing local communities together and recognising their contribution and commitment to their local community.

We partnered with MLHD disaster recovery clinicians to meet with the local Rural Fire Service Captains by funding a presentation by a specialist disaster psychologist, David Younger.

The Foundation purchased fire fighting pumps for six local brigades and purchased and distributed 120 handheld UHF receivers for individuals and  brigades for use in remote areas.

The Foundation coordinated in partnership with the Tumbarumba Writers group the publication of the book Tumbarumba Under Siege recollections of the 1952 2019-2020 fires. The book has been distributed nationally and delivered to our funding partner Global Giving at a #Shift the Power Conference in Bogata Colombia December 2023.

Profits from the sale of the book are now held by the foundation as grant for Tumbarumba Youth. Grants to date have supported the Tumbarumba Sports Academy.

150 Lets Get Planting Vouchers to the value of $50 were distributed by the Foundation to individuals, using an initial bushfire appeal donation from an anonymous donor from the USA.

During the bushfire recovery period the Foundation also:

  • Hosted Women of Fire High Teas in partnership with Murrumbidgee L:ocal Health District Bushfire Recovery Team to bring local women affected by the disaster together.

  • Distributed 25 copies of The Well Gardened Mind written by Dr Sue Stuart-Smith to assist in the recovery process of individuals as their environment also recovered.

  • Distributed 12 copies of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse written by Charlie Macksey to also assist in recovery.

  • Funded posts for signage for the Wellness Nature Trail across the Snowy Valleys in partnership with MLHD Bushfire Recovery team.

In February 2024 a dinner, held featuring international author Dr Sue Stuart-Smith as guest speaker at Laurel Hill, brought the bush fire affected community together for an evening of reflection. Featuring local produce and wines from local suppliers, who had all been impacted by the fires. Amongst others, a highlight of the evening was an audio-visual performance “Dark Swell” by Julie Vulcan which featured locals impacted by the fires. 

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