The bulk of the grant funding will be used to ensure greater inclusiveness, especially for older people and others living with mobility and hearing issues, at the Port Broughton and Bute family fun celebrations on January 26.
Councils from across the country were encouraged to apply for National Australia Day Council (NADC) grants for community events that encourage their communities to reflect, respect and celebrate on Australia Day 2023.
Maree Wauchope, CEO, of Barunga West Council said some of the funding would ensure new chairs for Port Broughton and a portable sound system for Bute to make Australia Day events fully inclusive and accessible for those community members with visual, motor/mobility and auditory issues.
“Many of our residents and attendees at our Australia Day events are aged over 60 and require chairs, as many have reduced mobility, and more than 200 require assistance due to long term health conditions or disabilities,” Ms Wauchope said.
“For Australia Day 2023 we will be able to have easy to relocate chairs and tables available for people to use, and more visual and audible information to create more accessible and inclusive events.
“It has been identified at previous events in Bute that the portable sound system has not been adequate for people with hearing impairments. This grant will provide for an updated sound system to allow more members of our community to hear the program.”
Ms Wauchope said the 2023 Bute and Port Broughton family fun day celebrations will “reflect, respect and celebrate our community with breakfasts, presentations and family friendly activities, and volunteers play a major role making these events a success”.
“They will be fully accessible events and provide an opportunity for all of our community to come together to reflect on our past, and respect and celebrate our community,” she said.
“This grant will help to inject additional funds into our local community that our small council would not otherwise be able to do.”
Around 400 people are expected at Port Broughton’s Australia Day 2023 event on the foreshore to reflect, respect and celebrate with a breakfast, presentation and family friendly activities including an interactive Australian wildlife demonstration.
A further 150 people are expected at Bute Town Hall on January 26 for an event that features the Lion’s Club breakfast, award presentation and cutting of the cake ceremony for the Citizen of the Year.
The NADC grant awarded to Barunga West Council includes an allocation of $2000 for a professional photographer to capture images from across the region’s towns.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand said a total of $7.6 million in grants to local government authorities and community organisations were awarded for Australia Day 2023.
“Australia Day is a day to reflect, respect and celebrate – because we’re all part of the Story of Australia,” Ms Brand said.
“There are as many Australia Days as there are Australians, with each of us finding our own meaning and significance shaped by our own experience and history.”
Ms Wauchope said Barunga West Council worked closely with community groups and local businesses to run Australia Day events.
“For small country towns like Port Broughton and Bute, Australia Day events are valued and supported by the local community,” Ms Wauchope said.