At the Hindmarsh Shire Council meeting held at the end of August, the recipients of several rounds of grants were announced.

Ten businesses were awarded funding to assist with their development and growth as part of round one of the Business Assistance Grants program 2024/25, three groups were awarded funding through round one of the 2024/2025 Regional Community Events Grants program to assist with events being held across the Shire, and ten local community organisations grants through round one of the 2024/2025 Community Action Grants program.

Council allocated $20,000 towards the 2024/2025 Business Assistance Grants Program which was established in 2016 to generate new employment opportunities, support existing business growth and to attract new business to Hindmarsh Shire.

The two key areas for which this funding is available are Streetscapes - allowing businesses to apply for up to $3,000 to improve the exterior façade of their building, and Business Development – allowing businesses to apply for up to $2,000 to support the establishment of new and innovative businesses that increase diversity of the Shire’s business community.

The seven businesses that were successful in applying for Streetscape funding included -
  • Rainbow Sweets will receive $1,400 towards activating their large street-front windows, with signage to be completed by a local artist.
  • Nhill Thai Massage will receive $1,346 towards signage for their new business.
  • K’nyaw Asian Grocery in Nhill will receive $631 to install signage on their shop front.
  • Turbo Gallery will receive $3,000 towards a sculpture garden next to their Federal Street premises in Rainbow.
  • Lots of Laughter in Nhill will upgrade their outdoor dining area with $599 towards a new pergola.
  • Hayden’s Café will utilise $3,000 towards upgrades of their Federal Street business.
  • Lowana will receive $2,170 to upgrade their shop frontage with new signage.
Three businesses successfully applied for Business Development funding including -
  • Cat Clarke Catering has successfully applied for funding of $2,000 to go toward a commercial kitchen upgrade.
  • Big Bertha Coffee Van will receive $1,998 towards refrigeration upgrades for the busy catering business.
  • Partners in Ag will receive $1,679 towards personal development for its local Executive Officer.
All successful applicants are also co-contributing to these projects.
“It is great to see strong applications for assistance through this Business Assistance Grants program. Congratulations to the successful businesses. The next round of Business Assistance Grants will open mid-2025.”

- Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brett Ireland
The Hindmarsh Regional Community Events Grants program is designed to assist with events that celebrate culture, heritage and community wellbeing, boost the economy and increase visitation to Hindmarsh Shire, with $30,000 in the 2024/2025 budget.

Grant recipients were able to apply for funding of up to $7,500 (made up of cash and in-kind determined by Council) for their event, depending on the scale of the event and meeting all eligibility criteria.

The three local groups successful in applying for Regional Community Event Grants are –
  • The Dimboola Progress Association will receive $7,500 for the 2025 Wimmera Steampunk Festival. The 2025 Festival themed ‘The Carnival of Peculiarities’ will again be set in the 19th-century railway town of Dimboola and bring people from the Wimmera and beyond to come together through creativity, festivities and promises to transform the township into a 19th-century carnival of wonder.
  • Rainbow Rises Events Association (RREA) will receive $4,000 for the 2025 Rainbow Rises 480 event to be held in March. This is Round 1 of the National ARB Off Road Racing Championship, run in collaboration with the Victorian Off Road Racing Association. This event is run over 3 days and completes 6 laps of the 80-kilometer track. Friday evening includes a street party where all competitors and their vehicles are presented to be scrutineered and displayed in the main street of Rainbow.
  • Piggery Lane Players successfully applied for $2,000 funding towards their production of The Emperor’s New Clothes to be held in November at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre. The production reaches a large portion of the community by undertaking pre-production visits to schools and community groups and providing much anticipated and enjoyed group gatherings and outings from local aged care facilities.
All successful funding includes cash and in-kind components.
“Regional Events are a vital part of rural communities, bringing people together for events both attending and coordinating. Regional Events are also a great attractor for visitors to the areas supporting the economies of our small communities. Congratulations to the successful recipients of round one funding. Round two of the Regional Community Events Grants will open early 2025.”

- Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brett Ireland
The Community Action Grants program consists of three categories including, Small Equipment - allowing community organisations to apply for up to $1,000 for the purchase of items and equipment, Events - allowing community organisations to apply for up to $500 for the running of community events; and Community Assistance - allowing community organisations to apply for up to $1000 for needs not covered in the first two categories.

Community Assistance recipients included:
  • Nhill Twilight Branch, CWA of Victoria, will receive $1,000.00 to assist with the construction of a new fence on the north side of the building.
  • Rainbow Learning Group and Neighbourhood House Inc. will receive $505.86 to assist with updating and printing 1,200 Rainbow mural brochures.
  • Rainbow Progress Association Inc. will receive $1,000.00 to assist with the Rainbow 2050 Project.
  • The group looking after the beautification of the Nhill Railway Station will receive $500.00 to assist with works on the ground surrounding the (train) station.
Event Sponsorship recipients included:
  • Jeparit Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc. will receive $500 towards the annual Jeparit Agricultural Show.
  • The Oasis, Rainbow, will receive $500.00 for a movie night at The Oasis in Rainbow.
Small Equipment recipients included:
  • Rainbow Archive & Historical Society will receive $1,000.00 towards the purchasing of a Ricoh ScanSnap SV600 scanner.
  • Nhill A & P Society will receive $997.50 towards the purchase of safety vests for committee members to wear during the annual show and other events at the showgrounds.
  • The Combined Probus Club of Nhill will receive $1,000.00 for the purchase of a laptop computer.
  • Nhill and District Sporting Club will receive $1,000.00 towards the purchase of a new lawn mower for Davis Park.
”Congratulations to all our community groups who were recipients of these grants. You are all very deserving and we greatly appreciate the time and effort you contribute to making our towns a better place to live.”

“I am sure the funding will come in very handy in completing some ‘wish lists’ that may not have otherwise been achievable.”

- Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brett Ireland