General News
30 June, 2026
Grant to support a stronger community
A small grant for a big, open space is about to make a huge difference for the Eddington Community Centre.
The volunteers who run the centre are thrilled to received $7075 for upgrades to the parkland beside the town’s hall.
The current community centre was built in 1984 after the old hall was demolished. In the early days of that old hall, the town was booming as a result of the gold rush, and became home to a couple of pubs, a brewery, a cheese factory and even a small police station.
While the area has since become much quieter, Eddington Com-munity Centre secretary Debbie Davies said the hall, as well as the park beside it, is still widely used for community events all year round.
“Our president and his family have been [organising events] for years, for ANZAC Day or Christmas carols. What we have been finding is people are looking for that connection in the community, and the amount we have attending is actually growing,” she said.
The group’s president, Simon Morrison, agrees.
“Nine times out of 10, it’s a free event with free food so you do get a lot of people, and many are young people too,” he said.
The park currently has a picnic area, a playground, barbecue facilities, a war memorial and a few commemorative trees.
However, this recent funding will support plans to add more.
The volunteers hope to repaint their shipping container, replace tourist signage, install accessible and inclusive seating and upgrade to the gates at the entrance.
“To make it inviting for people, that’s the biggest thing,” Mr Morrison said.
He said the gates could be over 100 years old, an original feature that was “donated’’ to the centre around the time it was built.
“Obviously, we want to make it as attractive as possible at the entrance into the park, so we have arranged for them to be coated and restored,” Mr Morrison said.
Many of the events advertised on the signage board were discontinued years ago. But once this is updated, the sign will be moved from the front of the community centre, into the parkland.
“It’s to encourage people onto the path, to get them right in and to have a look,” Ms Davies said.
The pair said being accepted for the funding makes them feel they, and the other volunteers, have been recognised for their work towards the community centre.
“I think [the government] recog-nised what the small community groups are doing,” Mr Morrison said.
“It means we will draw people in, rather than people being able to come pass and drive off.
“It’s great recognition for the community, to be accepted for [this grant]. It is a hub that does bring the community together.”
Eddington Community Centre was one of 18 recipients across the Ripon electorate successful in the recent round of Tiny Towns funds.
