Grants for music, harmony and gardening

A music festival, a Filipino harmony day and a natural community garden are among projects on the Peninsula to be awarded grants by Gosford Council.

Council has announced grants for the Pearl Beach Music Festival, the Peninsula Harmony Day, Mary Mac's Place National Volunteer Week celebration, Equilibrium Eco-Services Inc natural community gardening in Woy Woy and Pearl Beach Progress Association's 80th anniversary.

Gosford Council has announced funding for 49 projects totalling $202,745 under its Community and Cultural Grants program this year.

The Pearl Beach Music Festival is an annual event held in the Pearl Beach community hall, usually over the Queen's birthday weekend.

A submission to council stated that the program was prepared by local residents and next year there would be greater emphasis on the use of local artists and musicians through the Central Coast Conservatorium.

The artists will include The Concertante Ensemble (led by Chris Bearman), The Lipman Harp Duo, Sydney Conservatorium Ensemble, The Nexas Saxophone Quartet, and Sydney Conservatorium Ensemble (Virtuoso Voices).

The Australian-Filipino Association of the Central Coast has received funding to help celebrate Peninsula Harmony Day next year.

"We'll present and revive our true Filipino cultural ethnicity through a demonstration of the three regional dances, fashion parade of regional costumes, exhibition of ethnic games and games competition."

A cooking demonstration of "Lechon", the Filipino way of spit roasting a pig will be held.

There will also be stalls with Filipino foods, artefacts, handicrafts and cultural facts and information, the group stated.

"The presentation will demonstrate the Filipinos' inherent hospitality and the sense of community spirit."

Centrecare Broken Bay, Mary Mac's Place, has received funding to celebrate National Volunteer Week next year.

The event celebrates the achievements of the group's 100 volunteers who are involved in Mary Macs program.

"The volunteers are men and women of all ages who are predominately older and retired people and unemployed people referred through Volunteering Central Coast, Centrelink, and Wesley United Employed," the groups submission said.

"For National Volunteer Week 2009, we would like to host a luncheon to acknowledge their invaluable contribution.

"This celebration will not only show our appreciation, but importantly, will raise the profile of volunteers and strengthen the valued role of volunteers in our community."

Equilibrium Eco-Services received funding for natural community gardening in Woy Woy.

The group's submission stated: "Natural Community Gardening in Woy Woy is a project that aims to build on existing assets within the community in relation to knowledge sharing, understanding of the environment and ecology through hands-on learning, and linking youth with their community through the development of natural community gardens on public school sites.

"Community workshops, supported by the Peninsula Environment Group, will be held at the Woy Woy Environment centre, at the school sites, and in other appropriate community spaces (e.g. within the retirement villages), where practical activities and hands-on learning will be the focus.

"Teachers, parents, grandparents, and local residents will be invited to attend to share knowledge and work with the students on important natural resource management outcomes, consistent with the Catchment Action Plan of the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

"The project is also aimed at assisting the community in moving towards sustainability through the development of new understandings about the environment and our place in it."

The Pearl Beach Progress Association has received funding to update and reprint its "Pearl Beach, Early Days" book to help celebrate its 80th anniversary.

Gosford mayor Cr Jim Macfadyen, said he was delighted to be able to support so many worthwhile grass-root events and services.

"It is these groups who best understand the needs of their communities, and council is committed to providing them a helping hand to undertake their valuable work," Cr Macfadyen said.

"These grants play an important role in the development of a cultural identity for our area and assist in achieving Gosford City's Vision 2025 objectives.

"All of these projects will add immense value to our community and I congratulate the successful recipients."

The Community Development and Cultural Grants Program was funded annually by council and provides financial assistance for community development activities that will enhance the standard of living and quality of life for people living and working in the Gosford Local Government area.

Cr Macfadyen will present the grants to successful recipients at a cheque presentation next month.

Press release, 7 Jul 2008 Lisa-Maree Schell, Gosford Council