By Kate Raston
Wednesday, 26th February 2014
The Kulin Wildflower Group and Herbarium is encouraging other groups in the Wheatbelt to apply for a grant to help them in their daily operations.
This year grants of up to $5000 are available through Wheatbelt NRM’s Supporting Community NRM in the Wheatbelt package.
Last year $56,000 was distributed amongst 16 community groups in the region, funded under the State NRM program.
The Kulin Wildflower Group and Herbarium was one of the 16 successful applicants. The group’s Sandra Murray said the grant was used to purchase a freezer.
“Every six months we need to freeze our collection of wildflowers to prevent insect damage,” Sandra Murray said. “Instead of knocking on doors trying to find enough cold storage around town, we now have our own facilities.
“We would encourage other groups to apply for this grant, as it has already helped our volunteers carry on their work preserving native flora.”
Wheatbelt NRM’s Jacquie Lucas said the idea behind the grant was to help community groups improve their management and member recruitment.
“In previous years we’ve helped river conservation and catchment groups and sandalwood enterprises in their daily running,” Jacquie Lucas said.
“We want other Wheatbelt groups to apply for the grant as they help make up the fabric of a vibrant community.
“The grants are about improving how these groups work on a daily basis, rather than the projects they carry out.”
Applications for the Capacity Building grants close on Friday, 28th March 2014.
For more information contact Jacquie Lucas at Wheatbelt NRM on 9670 3100 or access the website www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au