General News
29 May, 2023
Groups to benefit from $1000 Aus Post grants
After years dealing with fire, lockdown and floods, a small grant from Australia Post is helping the Lexton community recover. Fiona Williamson is secretary of the Lexton Public Hall, which received a $1000 ‘People of Post Grant’. “It’s been...
After years dealing with fire, lockdown and floods, a small grant from Australia Post is helping the Lexton community recover.
Fiona Williamson is secretary of the Lexton Public Hall, which received a $1000 ‘People of Post Grant’.
“It’s been a bit of a time. So we thought it would be great to have some free community events that kind of revitalise the hall and allow people to get together. Some family friendly events,” Ms Williamson said.
Lexton was hit by a bushfire in December 2019 and again weeks later in 2020.
“When we had the summer fires in 2020, Lexton had already had a fire in December 2019, which I think sometimes is a little bit missed because obviously we had the whole east coast on fire a number of weeks after. But that had a big impact on the community, with a lot of livestock lost. And there was a home lost in the 2019 fire,” Ms Williamson said.
“It was pretty traumatising for the community out here and then they went straight out of that into lockdowns. So there was really no opportunity for the community to process it together.
“Then coming out of that, we were flooded, twice.”
Ms Williamson said the Lexton Public Hall committee had a few ideas on what to spend the grant money on.
“We would really love to run a movie night at the hall,” she said.
“Or a Christmas party, last year there wasn’t really a Christmas party in town, so we’re thinking that might be something we can do in December at the hall.”
You can stay up-to-date with the events the Lexton Public Hall is running on its Facebook page.
Bealiba Reservoir Committee also received a grant after Daena Berry, who works at the local post office, nominated the group.
President of the committee, Jenny Lovel, said the $1000 they received would go towards developing the picnic area at the Bealiba reservoir.
“Over COVID and since COVID there’s been a real influx of campers and caravaners. We try to strike a balance so that there’s room for the campers to come in and allowing them to have their free camping but also have a couple of areas that are for the community to use,” Ms Lovel said.
“We wanted a designated picnic area. So we’re spending the money on constructing tables, making barbecue areas, tidying up the camp fires that are already there and developing a scope of works.
“It’s really creating this community space that everyone can use.”
This year Australia Post awarded 438 People of Post Grants of up to $1000 to community organisations across the country.
Recipients had to be nominated by a local Australia Post team member.