Community & Business
21 June, 2021
Continued funding greatly appreciated by local groups
The decision by Toowoomba Region Councillors to continue to cover insurance costs for local community groups, including halls, has been warmly received by those groups who have benefited from it.
Local groups include the Cambooya Public Hall Association, Wyreema Public Hall Committee, Hodgson Vale Community Sports Club, Felton Hall Association, Greenmount Returned Soldiers Memorial Hall Association, Nobby Heritage and Development Association and Westbrook Hall Committee.
Halls and historical societies were the main recipients.
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) $1,745.24 has allocated to every community group involved in the funding for 2021/22 and 2022/23, up from $1,645.24.
The funding covers two types of organisations: historical societies and halls, which can either be owned by TRC or not.
Clare Cougran, Secretary of the Cambooya Public Hall Association, said the funding by TRC allows for money that the hall raises itself to be spent elsewhere.
“Without it we may not be able to keep up with upgrades as required, Mrs Coughlan said.
“We have to do all our own fundraising to keep the hall maintained.”
Mrs Coughlan said she was happy with TRC’s continued investment in her organisation.
“On behalf of the committee, we’d like to thank Toowoomba Regional Council,” she said.
Ted Cavanagh, Secretary of Hodgsonvale Community Sports Club, said the insurance funding benefitted the general community and members alike.
“They do not have to pay extra when hiring the facility which keeps the costs down for all those who use the facility, he said.
“Getting this rebate each year means we don’t have to go out and run extra events to help pay for it, which is always difficult with a purely voluntary organisation like ours.”
Sara Howell, who is Secretary of Wyreema Public Hall Committee, said it was “quite nice” that the funding had been increased by $100.
“Especially with COVID, we don’t hire the hall out as much as usual so it’s been really good.
“Without funding we wouldn’t be able to protect our volunteers,” Mrs Howell said.
The funding covers public liability, volunteer and professional cover insurance.
Organisations need to have all three types of insurance in order to be eligible to receive funding.
Mrs Howell said the $100 boost will be beneficial as she suspects insurance costs will increase this year.
The insurance funding is part of the 2021/22 to 2022/23 Core Community Support Program.
The Program is separate to TRC’s Community Grants Policy.
Core Community Support includes providing less than the commercial rate for internal council payments, for consistent payments and for insurance support.
The motion to approve the funding, by Cr Carol Taylor and seconded by Cr Bill Cahill, was carried unanimously.
