Hindmarsh Regional Community Events Grants Awarded

Published on 09 September 2024

At the Hindmarsh Shire Council meeting held on Wednesday 28 August, three groups were awarded funding through round one of the 2024/2025 Regional Community Events Grants program to assist with events being held across the Shire. 

Hindmarsh Shire Council allocated $30,000 in the 2024/2025 budget to support events that celebrate culture, heritage and community wellbeing, boost the economy and increase visitation to Hindmarsh Shire.

Grant recipients were able to apply for funding of up to $7,500 (made up of cash and in-kind determined by Council) for their event, depending on the scale of the event and meeting all eligibility criteria.

The three local groups successful in applying for Regional Community Event Grants are:

• The Dimboola Progress Association will receive $7,500 for the 2025 Wimmera Steampunk Festival. The 2025 Festival themed ‘The Carnival of Peculiarities’ will again be set in the 19th-century railway town of Dimboola and bring people from the Wimmera and beyond to come together through creativity, festivities and promises to transform the township into a 19th-century carnival of wonder.
• Rainbow Rises Events Association (RREA) will receive $4,000 for the 2025 Rainbow Rises 480 event to be held in March.  This is Round 1 of the National ARB Off Road Racing Championship, run in collaboration with the Victorian Off Road Racing Association.  This event is run over 3 days and completes 6 laps of the 80-kilometer track. Friday evening includes a street party where all competitors and their vehicles are presented to be scrutineered and displayed in the main street of Rainbow.
• Piggery Lane Players successfully applied for $2,000 funding towards their production of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ to be held in November at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre.  The production reaches a large portion of the community by undertaking pre-production visits to schools and community groups and providing much anticipated and enjoyed group gatherings and outings from local aged care facilities.

All successful funding includes cash and in-kind components.

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brett Ireland congratulated all applicants and said “Regional Events are a vital part of rural communities, bringing people together for events both attending and coordinating.  Regional Events are also a great attractor for visitors to the areas supporting the economies of our small communities.  Congratulations to the successful recipients of round one funding. Round two of the Regional Community Events Grants will open early 2025.”

For more information, please contact Mark Fletcher, Manager Economic Development & Tourism, on 5391 4444 or business@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au

Monica Revell
Chief Executive Officer