A total of $57,453 cash plus in-kind support to the value of $10,462 has been endorsed for distribution for round two of the City of Mount Gambier 2024/2025 Grants and Sponsorship Program.
Assisting eligible groups and individuals, round two of the program consists of the following streams:
Opening on Friday 7 February 2025 and closing on Friday 7 March 2025, Council received 19 applications for events and/or projects across the five funding streams. All applications were assessed during two assessment panel meetings with 16 applications determined to be successful with Council endorsing this recommendation.
“Applications were assessed using an evaluation matrix, which generated a ranking based on how well each application met predetermined criteria. Key factors considered included economic impact of the event, the use of local suppliers and long-term sustainability to ensure lasting benefits for the community,” General Manager People, Place and Liveability Chris White said.
Minor Events Grants were endorsed for:
Being held at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre in August with an anticipated 210 participants, the Science and Engineering Challenge is a national program introducing STEM to high school students from across the region.
“The event consists of a series of STEM-related challenges which teams from competing schools undertake, points are awarded and the winning school has the opportunity of competing in State and National competitions. In 2024 the Mount Gambier event comprised seven schools from across the Limestone Coast. All up 175 students were involved and another 37 teachers, judges and helpers,” a Lakes Rotary spokesperson said.
The annual Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra Gala Concert will be held at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre on 21 June 2025, providing a platform for local soloists, choristers and composers to showcase their musical talent and creative passion, while highlighting Mount Gambier as a culturally progressive city.
“The Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra was formed in 2013 to provide opportunities for musicians in our community to participate in an exciting orchestral experience. Each year we provide high quality musical performances to audiences in the Limestone Coast region,” Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra Secretary Jennie Matthews said.
“Our musicians range from dedicated music students to professional musicians who meet regularly throughout the ten-week rehearsal period, in the lead up to our seasonal performances.”
Major Events Grants were endorsed for:
Corporate Sponsorship was approved for the Adelaide Guitar Festival to host AGF Mount Gambier with $25,000 cash and $7,052 in-kind, while South East Arts Society 2025 Open Arts Awards received approval for a Minor Community Strengthening Grant to the value of $1,500 cash and $1,000 in-kind.
A strategic review of the 2024/2025 Grants and Sponsorships Program is now scheduled to take place following the implementation of a new streamlined application process for all community grants and sponsorships which commenced on 1 July 2024.
Media contact: City of Mount Gambier Communications Officer Ashlea Watson at awatson@mountgambier.sa.gov.au or (08) 8721 2578.
