Gunnedah Shire Band is the latest community group to benefit from the #GreaterNewEngland funding program.
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The band is the main winner of this July’s grants, which are funded by the Greater Bank. The band took out the public vote to receive $3000, followed by Gunnedah Physical Culture, which will receive $1000.
It is the second consecutive month that a Gunnedah-based community group has come out on top after Curlewis Public School was awarded the major funding for June.
Gunnedah Shire Band master Laurence Rowe said the funding will be a financial “boost”.
“It’s come as a nice surprise, I can tell you… We’re very grateful,” he said.
“I think it’s a great incentive for community organisations like ours.
“There’s a multitude of things we could spend the funds on. Typically, we spend that amount of money [just] maintaining instruments.”
Mr Rowe said some of the funds may go towards the band’s upcoming trip to Sydney for the 2018 NSW Brass and Concert Band Championships in late August. The band will compete in Open B grade.
“If you’re going to go to those competitions, you’re forever raising funds, especially for the entry fees,” he said.
“It looks like we’re on track this year, despite the drought.”
The band master said the grant “outweighs” the money netted from the band’s two recent fundraisers.
He said the band’s biggest fundraiser in recent years has been through AgQuip, with members already preparing for this year’s event. Former band member Tracey Nielsen has been teaching the band community how to use coffee machines to meet demand on the field days on August 21-23.
