From a disability choir to a dreamtime cooking museum program, Maribyrnong council has awarded grants to more than 30 community groups as part of its annual grants program.
Totalling $255,000, which is an increase of $85,000 compared to last year, the grants program would aim to remove barriers to participation for people living with disability, create and strengthen social connections for community members (including at risk communities), and reconciliation.
The successful grant applicants included the disability choir at Angliss Neighbourhood House, Endeavor Youth Australia towards running a Futsal tournament and Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West towards delivering a Dreamtime Cooking program exploring the use of indigenous ingredients.
Museum spokesperson Dr Kerrie Poliness said First Nations, Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese and Horn of Africa recipes would appear on the program menu.
“The Dreamtime Cooking Program was created to help promote connectedness between diverse communities encouraging them to feel welcome in the natural environment of Pipemakers Park where indigenous plants can be found all around the Living Museum,” she said.
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said the successful grant recipients would move towards removing barriers and strengthening connections within the Maribyrnong community.
“It is pleasing to see the funds allocated across a range of diverse projects which will help a large number of groups deliver on their individual visions,” she said.
“I am looking forward to hearing the Angliss Choir, tasting indigenous fare created in the Dreamtime Cooking program, and watching our youth compete on the Futsal court as these, and the myriad of other inspiring projects take shape over the coming months.”
Details: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/communitygrants
