Five community groups across the Moree Plains will share in $14,000 after Moree Plains Shire Council approved the final quarterly round of its 2025/26 Public Donations Program.
Councillors signed off on the funding at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday, 16 July. Little Wings and the Moree Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band each received $3,000, the Moree Motor Enthusiasts Club and Seniors Week Committee were awarded $2,750 each, and the Mungindi Show Society received $2,500.
Little Wings will use its funding to support free hospital flights, ground transport and specialist medical clinics for seriously ill children, and to continue hosting monthly paediatric specialist clinics at Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service. The Moree Motor Enthusiasts Club’s grant goes towards the Moree Motor Show, held over the Father’s Day weekend alongside the Moree Markets, while the Seniors Week Committee will put its funding towards a Christmas luncheon for older residents. The Mungindi Show Society’s grant supports the 2026 Mungindi Show.
The Pipes and Drums Band’s funding was not part of the original staff recommendation, with uniform-related requests given lower priority after council received eight eligible applications seeking a combined $23,500 against an available budget of $14,000. Deputy Mayor Wayne Tighe argued the band should not miss out because of its contribution to the community, and councillors varied the staff recommendation to fund it in full.
Two sporting teams, the Andrew Hammond Memorial Mixed Netball Team and the Toomelah Tigers Warranggal Yuurrila rugby league team, missed out on funding to compete in Indigenous sporting carnivals in Newcastle, with applications involving travel and uniforms not prioritised in the oversubscribed round.
Mayor Susannah Pearse said the Public Donations Program played an important role in supporting the volunteers and community groups that help connect the Moree Plains.
“Our community is built on the passion and dedication of local organisations and volunteers who work tirelessly to deliver events, programs and initiatives that bring people together,” Mayor Pearse said.
“Council is proud to support these projects through our Public Donations Program and we congratulate each one of the successful applicants.”
Applications for the next round are open now, with completed forms due by 5pm on Friday, 11 September. Application forms and funding guidelines are available at www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au, or by contacting Moree Plains Shire Council on (02) 6757 3222.
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