General News
12 May, 2026
Groups visit Maryborough, funding given
A group of philanthropists has recently overseen the work of Maryborough’s not-for-profits (NFP) and observed the progress of the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) Victoria program.
Over the two-day visit, representatives from FRRR, the Bertalli Family Foundation, the Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Helen MacPherson Smith Trust (HMST), The Ross Trust and The William Buckland Foundation met with local leaders and visited eight local community groups, including Maryborough Volunteer Resource Group, Goldfields Community Connect at Daisy Hill Community Centre and the Mill House.
The Mill House’s manager Sarah McLean said the IRCF program has kept many of the community groups associated together.
“It was such a pleasure to welcome the group to Mill House to share the important role we play in providing a multipurpose venue and safe space for our community,” she said.
On the day, the Mill House was even awarded a grant of nearly $30,000 for their IT hub.
“We were absolutely thrilled to receive news of a grant for $28,035 to boost our technology skills and equipment to offer a Digital Access Hub for our community,” Ms McLean said.
Facilitators from the other IRCF Victoria communities, Swan Hill and Colac, also attended to share insights about the NFP sector in their communities, where they see similarities and opportunities across their communities and how local groups are benefiting, and learning, through the program.
FRRR’s CEO Natalie Egleton said the IRCF initiative is a proven place-based model that demon-strates how funding can find roots in long-term objectives and be the catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change.
“We’ve seen the IRCF model embraced in eight communities across New South Wales, so we know that it can have a profound impact on the charity sector in rural places,” she said.
“Alongside our Victorian com-munity partners, we are entering the second year of a five year program. This visit to Maryborough has highlighted the beginning of their IRCF journey and the priorities and opportunities they seek to take on moving forwards. These are not easy challenges or small ideas.
“The conversations during our visit reinforced the value and impact that can be made when groups have access to the right ingredients a shared community roadmap to inform their actions; local on the ground support; and multi-year funding to activate their ideas.”
Debra Morgan, CEO of HMST was among those who explored community centres, local sites, heard insights from program grantees, met local leaders and connected with community members.
“As a partner in FRRR’s IRCF program, it was a pleasure to visit Maryborough and to receive such a warm welcome from local leaders and community members. The commitment and optimism of the community was clearly evident in the places we visited and the people we met and I was impressed not only by the progress achieved in such a short period of time, but by the openness with which the community shared its journey,” she said.
Later this year, NFP and community groups will be invited to a workshop to review their IRCF journey to date, revisit the Mary-borough and surrounds community roadmap and explore what might need to change or adapt to best serve the community over the next 12 months and beyond.