Rotary Alexandra’s guest speaker this week was Robyn Hill who joined Foundation Murrindindi in 2014 after a corporate career in Melbourne.
The Foundation is an independent charitable fund supporting community led projects, which
evolved from the Marysville and Triangle Community Foundation started following the devastating 2009 Black Saturday fires. As a place-based foundation with an independent board of skills-based members, the foundation understands local needs because its members live locally. They had seed funding of $1million from the Victorian government, to be spent over 10 years. $850K has been invested in 110 community projects by 50 organizations, including $200K for youth suicide and mental health services, and assisting Alexandra Football and Netball Club clubroom redevelopment.
As well as direct provision of funds the Foundation acts as an enabler to help positive things happen, because the needs within our community don’t stop.
Recent grants have been provided to-
Alexandra Secondary College- $49,000 for mental health support, $30,000 for stage 2, Murrindindi Youth Garden, $16,000 for students transitioning from primary to secondary schooling, and $5000 in back-to-school vouchers (Yea and Alexandra)
Connecting Communities Grants recently announced recognize that 30% of households in the Shire are single person households. Sponsoring activities such as barefoot bowls at Flowerdale, community pizza nights in Fawcett, and Seniors’ week activities (with U3A) and Menzies carers week afternoon teas all encourage connectedness, which is so important for mental health and wellbeing.
A social enterprise is soon to be launched, so that local giving can have local impact.
There are many parallels between the work of Rotary and Foundation Murrindindi and by working together we can all do better. 20% of Murrindindi Shire residents volunteer, compared with state average of 13%.
An entertaining and informative speech. If you want to find out more or can financially help Foundation Murrindindi, go their website. https://foundationmurrindindi.org.au/
