First Ever Grants Awarded - 20 September, 2008

At yesterday's Good News Night , winners of the Buderim Foundation's first ever grants were announced.

This year's applicants submitted a wide range of worthwhile community projects aimed at improving Buderim community's quality of life.

The Buderim Mountain State School P and C received a cheque for the School's Archives Restoration project for $5,000. This large project celebrates and showcases the school's heritage and history going back over 100 years. Archival materials will be recorded and catalogued using leading edge technology and professional archivists will help restore and preserve key documents. The Foundation looks forward to seeing the archival material displayed in prominent community spaces over the coming years.

A $4000 cheque was presented to assist the Buderim Scout Group purchase a new storage shed for its scout den and expand the recreation opportunities available for Buderim children and youth. The Groups' current shed is 30 years old and has long passed its use by date. The new shed will allow for programs to be expanded and will allow the Group and its hirers to better secure their equipment.

The Suncoasters Square Dance Club Inc. was awarded $4, 752 for Security and Access Lighting for its building. Whilst the recently opened Dixon Road/Sunshine Coast Motorway interchange has improved the building's visibility, a new car park has had to be built alongside the property. The Foundation grant will help fund lighting for this new carpark and pedestrian link to ensure safe, off-street parking and night time access for Club members and other dance clubs and firness groups that use the building.

Mr Gary Hopkins, the Foundation's Chair highlighted at the end of the presentations that "These grants highlight another significant milestone in the Foundation's short history and reflect the Buderim community's support of the Foundation since the concept was first proposed in 2001. We are now a step closer towards achieving our true potential as a significant funder of community projects." Mr Hopkins congratulated all those who had submitted applications and encouraged those unsuccessful applicants to consider re-submitting applications in 2009.