Member for Orange Phil Donato is looking forward to Eugowra Public School students training and playing on refurbished sports courts following the allocation of funding through the Community Building Partner­ship program.

Mr Donato was delighted to announce $297,658 for the electorate with Eugowra P and C heading the list, securing $131,450 to repair the school’s tennis and basketball/netball courts and cricket pitch with resur­facing and the installation of lighting.

In all, Mr Donato was pleased to an­nounce 13 projects covered by the 2023 Community Building Partnership Program funding.

“The State Government funds will deliver much-needed improvements to local facili­ties and it’s great to see the kids of Eugow­ra are among those to benefit,” Mr Donato said.

“I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these pro­jects make a real difference for community groups in the area.”

Along with Eugowra P and C, success­ful projects in the local area for the 2023 round were:

• Trundle Children’s Centre, Shade Sail installation – $11,770

• Forbes Shire Council, Lions Park Shade Sale – $37,692

• Sporting Shooters Association Forbes, Clay Target Trap Replacement Program – $5,000

• Tullamore Inc, Tullamore Preschool Kitchen Refurbishment – $16,185

• Parkes Shire Food Service Inc, Kitchen Equipment Upgrade – $25,000

• Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society Inc, Upgrade to Stage Curtains and Lighting Equipment – $14,000

• Trundle War Memorial School of Arts, Trundle War Memorial Hall Hearing Loop Installation – $10,000

For more information, visit nsw.gov.au/cbp.

Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) has announced a matched giving campaign this end of financial year, and is calling on the public to donate and take advantage of this opportunity to help open roads for rural and regional youth.

Any gifts made during the campaign will support national pro­ grams and resources to empower regional youth to unlock their full potential, with all donations made to CEF matched up to a total of $500,000 until 30th June.

In 2023, approximately 82% of CEF supported students did not receive financial support from family and 40% were ineligible or did not receive government assistance. Additionally, 46% were work­ ing more than 15 hours a week on top of full-time study, just to make ends meet.

CEF Chief Executive Officer Wendy Mason explains, “This dem­onstrates a clear gap in the assistance regional young people are receiving to undertake post-school education and why the work of CEF is so critical, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.” “This matched giving campaign is an incredible opportunity to raise much needed funds to support our national operations, to grow the impact we have on the lives of our rural and regional youth,” said Ms. Mason.

CEF is a national for-purpose organisation committed to ena­bling equal access to further education and career opportunities for rural and regional youth. “We believe wholeheartedly in the po­tential of our regional and rural young people, and we need the help of the community to provide them with the support they need to achieve their dreams,” said Ms Mason.