Safety and first aid equipment to assist a local surf lifesaving club, support for a committed group of volunteers raising awareness of secondary incurable breast cancer, assistance to help establish a vegetable and herb garden program and a free community service program dedicated to teaching techniques to cancer patients to help them cope with the appearance- related side effects of treatment are just four of the eight projects selected by Bell Bay Aluminium employees to receive a community grant in 2016.
Launceston Surf Lifesaving Club, Launceston Little Athletics Club, Birralee & Districts Pony Club, Pademelon Park Wildlife Refuge, Swap it Tas, Tasmanian Acquired Brain Injury Service, Seconds Count Organising Committee and Cancer Patients Foundation are the most recent grant recipients from Bell Bay Aluminium's annual community grants program.
A committee of Bell Bay Aluminium employees had the arduous task of assessing the smelter's annual round of community grants.
The successful organisations will receive grants ranging in value from $650 to $2,000 at a morning tea and presentation at Pepper's York Cove in George Town on Friday 16 December at 10.30am.
The grants will enable these organisations to purchase much needed equipment or deliver specific support programs.
Launceston Surf Lifesaving Club will spend their grant on a defibrillator and first aid equipment. Birralee & Districts Pony Club will also purchase a defibrillator with their grant funds.
Cancer Patients Foundation will fund a Look Good Feel Better workshop in Launceston in 2017 to teach patients techniques to cope with the appearance-related side-effects of cancer treatment. Second Counts Organising Committee will utilise their grant to hold an annual gala ball to raise funds to support dedicated research projects to find better ways to treat and ultimately cure secondary breast cancer.
Swap it Tas will spend their grant on educational reading materials and tools to assist in educating communities about the skill of up-cycling and sharing with the aim of reducing waste and landfill.
Tasmanian Acquired Brain Injury Service will utilise their funds to establish a vegetable and herb garden program for clients. While Pademelon Wildlife Refuge will spend their grant on a filtration system for a swimming pool which they use in the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured blue penguins and Fiorland Crested and Snare penguin adolescents.
Launceston Little Athletics Club will purchase new equipment that will replace sub-standard equipment which will enable the Club to run girls and boys events simultaneously.
Bell Bay Aluminium's community grants program provides financial support to not-for-profit and community organisations across the state on an annual basis. In 2016 the total value of the eight grants to be presented is $14,000.