Kalinda School has missed out on funding for iPads. Photo: Kalinda School Facebook.
Griffith Council has rejected community grant applications from Kalinda School, Barnabas House and Griffith Women in Business (GWIB), with most councillors agreeing at a recent meeting the proposals did not meet council policy criteria.
Community groups can apply for quick turnaround grants of up to $2500 to help “deliver quality programs, events and projects which support the community and enhance wellbeing”.
Kalinda applied for funding to buy iPads to help non-verbal students communicate. Barnabas House sought money to furnish a residential unit so it could accommodate a person with disability. GWIB requested funding for a mentorship graduation event at Limone Restaurant.
Council staff recommended rejecting the Kalinda and Barnabas House applications on the grounds that the grants program does not cover capital items or physical assets. GWIB’s application was deemed ineligible because the event was limited to members rather than open to the wider community.
Councillor Mark Dal Bon said he opposed the GWIB application because he did not believe ratepayers’ money should fund people eating at a restaurant.
“Painting a building, yes, furniture, yes, but not going out to eat,” he said.
Mayor Doug Curran reminded him that those expenses would also be considered ineligible under the policy.
Cr Dal Bon did, however, support the Barnabas House application.
“This is a great cause and I personally think this is what grants should do, to provide places for the homeless around the town,” he said.
Councillor Anne Napoli agreed, praising the work of Barnabas House and supporting Kalinda’s application.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for non-verbal students to be able to communicate with their staff,” she said.
Anne Napoli was the only councillor to support all three bids. Photo: Griffith City Council.
Cr Napoli argued council policies were not “set in stone” and noted councillors had previously voted against staff recommendations.
Mayor Curran warned approving ineligible applications could create problems in future.
“It doesn’t meet the policy. There are other organisations that will apply that won’t meet the policy and will question why they weren’t successful. Realistically, we should be changing the policy rather than favouring one organisation over another,” he said.
Cr Napoli voted in support of all three applications. Cr Dal Bon backed the Barnabas House and Kalinda proposals, while Councillor Christine Stead supported Kalinda only. The remaining councillors voted against all three applications.
There was better news for Griffith Central Preschool, whose application for a multicultural day was approved. Councillors also granted a group of children with diverse needs access to the Griffith basketball stadium for a day of activities without having to pay the usual entry fees.
