Veterans’ Grants: Local community groups can apply for Australian Government grants to support projects honouring Australia’s military history and personnel. Member for Riverina and Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack said any group could apply for grant funding towards activities that assisted the health and quality of life of veterans or commemorative projects that honoured our military history. Grants are available for: Saluting Their Service (STS) commemorations program in two categories, namely Community Commemorative Grants (CCG) and
Major Commemorative Grants (MCG); The Veteran and Community Grants (V&CG) Program; The Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program and The Grants-In-Aid Program (available to only national ESOs). For further information on each of these programs and how to apply visit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
website www.dva.gov.au/consultation-andgrants/grants or contact the Wagga Wagga electorate office.
Word of the Year 2016: The Macquarie Dictionary has announced FAKE NEWS as the Committee’s Choice for Word of the Year 2016. The committee said: “The concept of fake news has been one of the big issues of 2016, not only in Australia but around the world. It captures an interesting evolution in the creation of deceptive content as a way of herding people in a specific direction. There has come a point with fake news where people are beginning to believe what they want to believe, whether or not the news story is actually true.”
2017 National Awards for Local Government: Nominations for awards close 3rd March. According to the Minister for Local Government and Territories, Fiona Nash the awards recognise innovative projects which provide new or improved local government services. “Councils have the opportunity to nominate under a wide range of categories including boosting productivity through infrastructure or contributing to regional growth,” said Member for Riverina and Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack. More information is available at: www.infrastructure.gov.au/nalg.
Return to school anxiety? School is a bubbling brew of expectations, social and academic challenges, complex relationships and emerging identities. Little wonder anxiety levels – of students, parents and school staff – can rise as the new academic year begins. CEO of beyondblue, Georgie Harman urge parents and carers to visit healthyfamilies.org.au. It has resources to help tackle back to school anxiety with practical tips and strategies for parents.