General News
4 July, 2025
$164K approved for community donations
The Horsham Rural City Council has approved more than $160,000 for community donations in 2025/2026 as part of its budget, supporting a wide range of community groups to perform different activities.
The Council has endorsed a total of $164,085 in its recent meeting on June 23, allocating funds for various recreation reserves, schools, charitable organisations, pipe bands, and non-profit organisations.
Public halls and other community facilities are set to receive insurance support in the form of an insurance levy, which will allocate the most considerable amounts, at $20,000 and $13,400, respectively.
Laharum’s Cameron Oval and Quantong Recreation Reserve will each receive $13,560, with the following additional recipients also receiving community donations: Dock Lake, Kalkee, Pimpinio, Noradjuha, Brimpaen, Clear Lake, Doeen, Riverside, Toolondo, and Wonwondah Recreation Reserves.
The Natimuk Showgrounds is set to benefit from a $13,560 donation, and its treasurer of the Committee of Management, Cheryl Sudholz, said the committee will utilise the money for the upkeep of the oval.
“Half of the money will go to pay the water bill, while the remaining will be used for the maintenance of the ground,” she said.
“The maintenance of pumps and sprinklers, mowing and keeping the grass green all year, for the users.
“It helps us keep the oval tidy and accessible not just for football and cricket club players, but also for dog walkers, kite flyers and market visitors."
Ms Sudholz thanked the Council for their ongoing support for the showgrounds users.
“It keeps everyone going and it also takes pressure from us, as small fundraisers, bar and functions are the only ways to make money at the oval,” she said.
“In future, we are looking forward to working and collaborating more with the HRCC.”
The Council has also approved donations for the local school, with Wimmera Lutheran, Horsham College, and St Brigid’s College receiving a small amount for various student awards.
Horsham Tidy Towns and different bands across the shire are also among the recipients.
The HRCC allocated $5490 for the Christian Emergency Food Centre, and its manager, Bev Mitake, said the funding helps the centre assist families during Christmas.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the council’s continued support, and this $5000 grant goes a long way in helping us serve the growing number of people in our community who need food assistance,” she said.
“While the funding arrives earlier in the year, a portion of it is put aside for our annual Christmas hamper campaign, and each year, we distribute over 500 hampers to families in need.
“Every day, we’re seeing between 10 and 15 clients, sometimes more, who come on behalf of themselves or their families, and that’s up to 50 people a day we’re helping put food on the table.”
Ms Mitake said the centre is serving families across the Wimmera region.
“We don’t just serve Horsham, as we receive calls from towns all across the Wimmera, and we make sure food is delivered to those in need, often within 24 hours,” she said.
“We know it’s not easy to ask for help, but we’re here for anyone doing it tough.
“If you walk in with ID, we’ll take care of the rest, with no judgment and just support.”
All allocations align with the Council’s Community Donations Policy, and the Council confirms that the funding supports the Council Plan 2021-2025.
The total donation allocations of $164,085 are included in the Council’s 2025-2026 budget.
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