Over the past 13 years the Community Foundation has supported many wonderful volunteer-led projects, including family arts workshops, fitness and wellbeing classes, all ability playground equipment, historic murals and equipment for many local halls and organisations from U3A through to playgroups and kinders.
Community Radio Supporting Local
One fantastic community project funded last year was the creation of a community radio program called Mirboo North Magazine. This program goes to air each Monday evening between 6pm and 8pm and is recorded in our very own satellite station for South Coast FM (previously 3M FM) at the Mirboo North Community Shed.
Each week the presenter, local Cliff Hammond, interviews community members about a range of topics from local sport results to local community activities.
‘Some community members will send in a recording of their league’s sports results and mini- interviews with the winners or the coaches,’ explains Cliff. ‘It works really well – the more people we hear on the program the better.’
Cliff then compiles the interviews, recordings, music and other snippets into the two hour show.
‘Another important part of the show is reading out local news, making it accessible to those who don’t read or are vision impaired,’ he added. ‘We have a number of readers who will read articles aloud and we use their recordings on the show.’
Our Impact
Last week Ruth Rogan, our Executive Officer, joined him to see how it all worked. ‘The equipment and the recording process was all very professional, but Cliff made it easy. For the Community Foundation, it was a great to have an opportunity to promote our Community Grants program to a new audience,’ explained Ruth.
With grant funding from both the Community Foundation and the Mirboo North Times, South Coast FM purchased the equipment which allows interviews to be recorded and for the program to be compiled and broadcast in the Mirboo North studio. If you are keen to have a listen, South Coast FM are on FM 88.1 to 89.5, but often in Mirboo North the clearest reception is when you stream online – just google South Coast FM and head to their website.
Over the last 11 years the Mirboo North & District Community Foundation has given community organisations more than $1.6 million in grants, supporting projects big and small, bringing cultural and environmental benefits, improving mental health and bringing people together.
If you have an idea for a community project that needs grant support, find out more here
or call 0418 301 092.