Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Volunteer Grants program is more than just funding; it is an investment in the people in my local community who give their time, their skills and their efforts to support others. The volunteers in my electorate are the quiet achievers, running local sporting clubs, supporting seniors, engaging young Redlanders and strengthening committee pursuits of every kind.

I'm pleased to report that committee organisations in the Redlands received $66,225 in funding, distributed among 36 local community organisations, for the 2024-25 volunteer grant round. This funding included $4,000 for the Redlands Special Olympics to support their volunteers with first aid training and fuel costs, and $2,000 for RedCity Roar basketball to assist with junior club volunteer training and scoreboard equipment.

Many community groups will be directing the funding towards insurance costs to ensure their volunteers are covered. The Redland Bay Cyclones Rugby Union Club received $1½ thousand to support the club with insurance costs. The Capalaba Warriors District Junior Rugby League Club will receive assistance with insurance costs to the tune of $2,000. The Redland Bay Men's Shed will receive $2½ thousand to assist with their public liability and professional indemnity insurance, which will enhance the men's shed's ability to serve the local community. Live Learn Survive will also receive $1,000 for a similar purpose: to cover volunteer run workshops educating children in water and fire safety, first aid and resilience that otherwise would not be provided in local schools. The Mount Cotton Scout Group will receive $2,000 towards insurance, which will ensure that scouts have funds available to assist in upkeeping facilities. Other groups that will benefit from funding of insurance for volunteers include Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare, who will receive $1½ thousand and who do an amazing job protecting the Emerald Fringe on the beautiful Coochiemudlo Island; the Redland District Committee on the Ageing, who will receive $1,500; and Redland City Bands, who will receive $1,000 to fund not only insurance costs but also electronic, audio and visual equipment.

The Night Ninjas and the Redland Bay Women's Shed will receive $2½ thousand each for IT and to contribute towards software purchases. The Girl Guides at Wellington Point and Cleveland are receiving $2½ thousand each to support volunteers with administration through the purchase of IT equipment such as computers, laptops and tablets.

Meals on Wheels, who perform such an important role throughout every electorate represented by those in this place, will benefit to make sure that their mission of providing a daily connection, caring conversation and support for those in need will continue. The group at Capalaba will receive $2,000, and there will be $1,500 each for the Meals on Wheels group at Cleveland and the Victoria Point Redlands group, who celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. I was pleased to be at that event. They'll also receive support for new IT equipment.

Other community groups that will also receive a share of this funding to assist their volunteers with IT equipment include the Redland Museum, which will receive $1½ thousand; the Victoria Point Sharks AFL Club, which will receive $2,000; the Redland Bay Cancer Council branch, one of the biggest fundraising branches in Queensland, which will receive $2,000; and Redlands Hockey Association, which will receive $2,000 in funding for IT as well as to invest in first aid and safety for their volunteers. Here's to Life Redlands, Breastfeeding Advocacy Australia Redlands branch and both the Cleveland conference and the St Rita's conference of Vinnies will receive $1,000 to assist with IT equipment and volunteer training.

Sport and recreation equipment is also being purchased through this latest grand round to support sporting clubs across the Redlands. This will benefit our volunteers by providing them with equipment they can use to train our young sporting athletes. This includes $1,200 for Blues Union Netball Club, $1,500 for Redlands Cricket—I'll be there on Saturday—and $2,000 for the Redlands United Football Club. Other community groups are focused heavily on volunteer training and education to equip and upskill. These investments include $2,000 for Redlands Touch, $1,500 for headspace Capalaba and $1,000 for United Community Services for educational equipment. There are also many others who will be benefiting through this grant round, including Crime Stoppers Bayside, Amity Point Community Club and eWatch Shoreline. Redlands volunteers are the heartbeat of our community, and I'm proud to support their extraordinary contributions.

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