The Member for Cootamundra today announced $34,500 in grants for projects in Young from the NSW Government’s 2019 Community Building Partnership Program.
The Young and District Family History Group Inc will be purchasing a microfilm reader printer thanks to a $17,000 grant, while the Young Railway Interest Group has secured $17,500 to refurbish a railway carriage.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the grants would help two local interest groups continue their work well in to the future.
“I am so pleased these projects have secured funding from the Community Building Partnership program, which is all about developing places and spaces for the whole community,” Ms Cooke said.
“These groups help bring our local, and locomotive, history to life, their new equipment and upgrades will benefit the entire Young community. I look forward to seeing them in action.”
President of the Young and District Family History Group Inc Carmel Price said their new microfilm reader will transform the way people research.
“We are so excited, ecstatic actually,” Ms Price said.
“This grant is going to save us a heck of a lot of work trying to raise the money to buy this intricate piece of machinery that is so vital to our research.”
Tom Douch from the Young Railway Interest Group said he was excited at the funding news.
“We are grateful for the funding that will enable us to get this refurbishment project underway. At the moment the carriage is not currently used due to its poor state,” Mr Douch said.
“When this carriage is refurbished it will house a working diorama of Young Railway Station in 1960 when the railways were at the height. It will be a community event focal point, linking to our local history. The YRIG are thrilled.”
Now a decade old, the Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 13,800 community projects since it commenced in 2009.
Applications for the 2020 Program opened in May.
For more information about the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cbp
