MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21 September 2006

Skycity Trust Grants Funding to Local Community

Life-saving equipment for St John Wakatipu, new search and rescue equipment for Wakatipu Search and Rescue, and the commission of major public sculptures through the Public Sculpture Trust of Queenstown are just some of the funding highlights announced by SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust.

The broad range of sectors to have benefited in the Trust’s fourth funding round include arts, culture and entertainment; community; education; health, welfare and medical; and rescue and emergency.

Trust Chairperson Mary Stamers-Smith says over the last four years the Trust has distributed over $500,000 through 114 grants to organisations and community groups in the Queenstown Lakes District Council area.

“Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade will purchase new training equipment through a $5,000 grant. A $2,000 grant to the Southern Lakes Diabetes Youth will enable them to continue the operation of their Continual Glucose Monitor. A grant of $6,995 will enable the Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust to redesign, build and host the festival website for 12 months. Central & Southern Autism Support Group will provide special one-on-one assessments for eight local children with funding of $3,200. And Destination Queenstown will use a $10,000 grant towards the cost of organising the annual SKYCITY Queenstown Community Trust Winter Festival Parade,” says Mary.

“The projects that the Trust has supported will all make a positive difference to our community and we are delighted to be able to assist them in their good work.”

The Trust will be distributing more than $95,000 to 24 local community groups, helping them to reach their charitable goals.

Mary Stamers-Smith is one of four local trustees on the SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust. She is joined by Rex Collie, Lorraine Cooper and Jim Ryan.

--

List of successful recipients for SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust 2006 funding round:

Alzheimer’s Society Southland The Society provides support for families coping with Alzheimer's. Funding was awarded to assist with the running of Wakatipu area educational days. These workshops are held regularly for families and rest home workers and volunteers who deal with Alzheimer's.

Arrowtown Village Association (Sawpit Gully) In 1997 the Sawpit Gully Track was abandoned by the Department of Conservation after significant flooding. The Arrowtown Village Association took over the lease of the track and now it is walked by over 100 people a day in summer. Funding was granted to upgrade and maintain the track.

Barnardos Southland ‘Footsteps to Feeling Safe' is a specialised 12-week programme designed to help children between the ages of five and 13 deal with the effects of being a witness to, or a victim of, domestic violence. The programme helps children work through the effects of this trauma as well as looking at ways the children can keep themselves safe. This grant was awarded to assist with course costs for cases who do not meet the necessary criteria for court funding.

Central & Southern Autism Support Group Autistic children require special one-on-one intervention to understand concepts that 'typically developing' children learn without assistance. Funding was provided towards assessments for eight local children with a Perth-based clinical psychologist. This assessment is designed to develop a learning programme for each child.

Destination Queenstown (Winter Festival) Since 1975 the annual Queenstown Winter Festival has been New Zealand's largest winter celebration. This grant was awarded to assist the costs of organising the free community Winter Festival Parade.

Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade Funding was awarded to assist with the purchase of a specialist audiovisual suite. This will be used for in-house and community training. In addition to the normal fire brigade training and programmes for its members, this equipment will also be used for public/community fire safety and other related educational purposes.

Happiness House This group provides family support and counselling in the Wakatipu region. Funding was granted towards two eight-week courses to educate new mothers in CPR, communication within the family and basic cooking skills.

Makarora Valley Community Inc. This grant was awarded for building a utility shed and disabled access toilet on reserve land in Makarora township. The shed will house an emergency-response trailer which is used for road accidents and for fire-fighting. It will also accommodate the spare pump for the township water scheme and the civil defence radio.

Public Sculpture Trust of Queenstown The Public Sculpture Trust of Queenstown was established to promote visual arts in the Queenstown central business district for the benefit of residents and visitors to the Queenstown Lakes District. Funding was awarded towards the commission and installation of major public sculptures by three of New Zealand's best sculptors.

Queenstown Lakes Family Centre This Centre provides free counselling and support services for children, adolescents and families in the Wakatipu district. Funds were granted towards the cost of therapy resources, furniture for the children's counselling room and to purchase professional books for the library.

Queenstown Playcentre Funding was awarded to assist with the replacement of old toys that are no longer considered safe. The grant will also be used to upgrade the baby area.

Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust This grant was awarded to assist with the Trust's 2007 Southern Lakes Arts Festival. The grant will be used to redesign, build and host the festival website for 12 months. It will also be used to design, print and distribute a promotional flyer.

Southern Lakes Diabetes Youth Funding was awarded towards the purchase of ongoing consumables required to continue the operation of the Continual Glucose Monitor.

St John Wakatipu The Wakatipu branch of St John was awarded funding to assist with the purchase of a new defibrillator. The current machines are old and need to be replaced.

The Gibbston Community Association Inc. Alongside Transit New Zealand, Telecom and the Queenstown Lakes District Council this society is working to create an information lay-by at the intersection of Coal Pit Road and State Highway 6. Funding was granted to assist with the development of signage which will map historical information, local landmarks, vineyards and wineries.

The Queenstown JazzFest Trust The Queenstown JazzFest Trust's goal is to use live music to encourage, involve, entertain and contribute to the cultural growth of Queenstown. These funds were awarded towards the costs of staging for the 2006 festival.

Upper Clutha Women's Support Group Inc. This women's support group provides educational programmes on the effects of family violence and family separation. Funding was granted to contribute to the group's costs in providing counselling courses for couples and individuals.

Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network Inc. Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network endeavours to provide high-quality individual intervention, support and advocacy to survivors of rape/sexual abuse, and family violence. Their aim is to work towards the elimination of abuse within the community through raising awareness of family or sexual violence. This grant will be used to purchase a new computer, software and a printer.

Wakatipu District Youth Trust Wakatipu District Youth Trust has provided support and advocacy for 10 years, to help youth in the Wakatipu basin make informed choices. This funding will be used towards the upcoming 'youth expo' to be held in October.

Wakatipu Kindergarten Funding was awarded to build seating and a small retaining wall within the kindergarten grounds. The current presents a health and safety issue and this upgrade will make it safe for the children.

Wakatipu Performance Festival This organisation focuses on youth and their participation in speech and drama. It organises performance festivals which encourage youth involvement in the arts in the Queenstown and Arrowtown areas. Funding was awarded to assist with an upcoming festival.

Wakatipu Search and Rescue This grant will assist with the purchase of new search and rescue equipment. This includes 15 sets of highly visible, reflectorised gor-tex jackets and pants.

Wakatipu Toy Library The Toy Library provides a service to children in the wider Wakatipu basin. It was awarded funding towards shelving and to purchase packaging for new and existing toys.

Wakatipu Victim Support Inc. Victim Support provides 24-hour emotional support, personal advocacy and information to people affected by crime and trauma. Funding was awarded towards training new volunteers and to up skill existing volunteers. This training will include working with suicide along with the resulting trauma, and advocacy education to support victims through the court system.

ENDS

© Scoop Media