Supporting the community

Marine Mammal Foundation is a successful grant recipient for the second year in a row. It’s receiving a grant to support its school holiday programs and Marine Champions projects, which educate and empower volunteers and youth leaders to protect the marine environment.

Bluearth Foundation will use its grant funding to deliver specialised programs into schools across City of Greater Dandenong and Port Phillip Council, to improve wellbeing by helping kids make movement a part of their everyday. The Active Schools program will improve students’ physical activity and mental health through movement and mindfulness led by a Bluearth-certified coach.

Churches of Christ Community Care provides free programs to around 150 people across Kingston, Frankston and Bayside council areas each week who struggle with financial and food security – and demand for support has increased. Grant funding will help to increase accessibility to the Glade Community Garden by adding raised garden beds and diversifying crops to add variety – so that those accessing support can source fresh food, learn how to plant and reap and relax in safety.

Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place was established in 2017 and is made up of local Aboriginal peoples with representatives from City of Kingston and Parkdale Secondary College. Children and young people will learn about ocean conditions and water safety through a program delivered in partnership with Mordialloc Lifesaving Club.

Environmental friends group, Kananook Creek Association, will use its grant to purchase an extra ‘tinnie’ boat to help volunteers clean the creek more efficiently. It’ll help to reduce the flow of litter into Port Phillip Bay – and onto Frankston beach.

Lord Somers Camp and Powerhouse engages over 100,000 people each year through its health and wellbeing programs – both at Albert Park Lake and on Western Port. Our grant will contribute to replacing its stand-up paddleboard fleet – used in programs that promote social health and wellbeing as a preventative tool for youth mental health challenges.

Mornington Life Saving, Swimming, Youth and Social Club is a successful grant recipient for the second year in a row. It’s received a grant to purchase equipment for its growing Nippers program, to ensure that all youth can engage in its surf sports programs for fun, fitness and water safety.

Mount Martha House Community Garden was established during COVID-19 to increase food security, community connection, social inclusion and education about sustainable living, gardening and healthy choices. Our grant will fund an irrigation system to make watering safe, efficient and timely for volunteers. 

Nepean Conservation Group, an independent conservation group approaching its 50^th birthday, will use its grant to support habitat restoration in four small bushland reserves on the Mornington Peninsula – furthering its work to protect and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the Nepean Peninsula.

Nourish DBC will use its grant to upgrade its kitchen facilities – so it can continue to be used for a cooking club for migrants and asylum seekers, community meals, and meals for multicultural youth programs within City of Greater Dandenong.

Volunteers at the Rotary Club of Mornington will celebrate the club’s 75th anniversary with a project that supports the environment. Hunters Crossing is a popular pedestrian and cycling bridge that crosses Tanti Creek – which flows into Port Phillip Bay. The club will help to rehabilitate the area by removing kikuyu grass and replanting 250 indigenous plants.

It's tap time for Somerville Primary School on the Mornington Peninsula. It’s received a grant to upgrade its drinking taps so students can easily fill up their reusable water bottles with tap water. It’ll also replace bathroom taps with water-wise timed taps.

St Kilda Police and Citizens Youth Club will install a grease trap to protect the pipes at its social enterprise, Olive’s Lane. It’ll allow young people to gain experience in food handling (as well as coffee making) – furthering its mission to empower youth through employment and learning activities.

Western Port Catchment Landcare Network supports community groups in Cardinia Shire that deliver environmental projects in the northern catchments of Western Port. Grant funding will be used to revitalise a community space Ray Canobie Reserve, Henty Lilyponds, in partnership with Cardinia Shire, Pakenham Secondary College, Cannibal Creek Landcare, and Westernport Catchment Landcare Network.

Yarrabah School is a special development school in the City of Kingston that caters for students with intellectual, physical and/or multiple disabilities. Grant funding will purchase rainwater tanks for the school garden, visually reinforcing students’ understanding of the need to conserve water.