Emma McBride (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to acknowledge some of the many community groups in my electorate who have been successful in securing grants under round 4 of the Stronger Communities Program. I would also like to wish those whose applications are still being assessed every success. Thank you to Kate Broadhurst, Central Coast Citizen of the Year, and the panel. These grants will help boost community groups and their work in our region on the Central Coast.

The Wyong Neighbourhood Centre marks 40 years of service to our community in 2019, and this grant will be put towards the upgrade of their much-needed Wyong community shed. Central Coast ARAFMI will be able to go ahead with much-needed upgrades to the Yakkalla recreation centre at Bateau Bay. Yakkalla is close to my heart. It's where my late father's younger onset dementia group, YODSS, meets every Friday. Thank you, Rhonda, for providing social and recreational programs for people and families whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Berkeley Vale Rural Fire Brigade was damaged during the storms of January 2016 and started refurbishing this year. This grant will be put towards a community space and providing laundry facilities and a place to feed people during emergencies. The Country Women's Association of New South Wales, Tuggerah Lakes, will plant a community garden with raised garden beds to make sure everyone can access the garden and take part in planting and picking fresh produce, such as herbs and vegies, for the community. Gosford Regional Community Services will expand the much-loved community garden at Wyoming, installing all-weather outdoor cooking facilities to hold workshops on growing fresh produce and host community events. Jopuka Productions is a leading not-for-profit youth arts company on the Central Coast. The grant will provide a touring package of technical equipment for mobile theatre productions, bringing Jopuka Productions, such as Gaybies, to a wider audience in a range of venues.

As a pharmacist, I was delighted to join Kanwal Public School during National Science Week STEM in Schools. This grant will support the P&C to purchase IT equipment for students to better access the digital technologies component of the science curriculum. Tacoma Public School P&C will provide a sunshade over their play equipment for sun-safe play, and The Entrance Baptist Church will install children's playground equipment and a half basketball court for their community. Wyoming Public School P&C will build a commemorative paved area to mark its 50th anniversary next year, while providing a safe surface for students and community groups. Wyong Men's Shed will replace woodworking equipment to provide a safe environment for members to acquire new skills and help the community groups with their projects, working shoulder to shoulder. Autism Central Coast will construct a 'boys shed', a social space for males aged 10 to 22 to learn life skills and make new friends, and Wyongah Progress Association will install air conditioning at the Wyongah Progress community hall, one of the only community owned and community funded halls in our region. In closing, these projects will go a long way towards helping those who help others in our community.