First time conveners Nelson Bay Bowling Club hosted representatives from five other Port clubs and successful grant applicants on Wednesday, July 11 for a formal cheque presentation.

Dean McCarthy, Nelson Bay Bowling Club’s secretary manager, said there had been a high demand for the round of funding.

“We had 43 applications,” he said. “We had a lot of different groups apply for category one funds.

“The Port Stephens ClubGRANTS Local Committee had an initial meeting to determine what was important in the community, what projects or groups should be made a priority. We prioritised those listings and in the final stage it was decided who should receive funds.”

There are nine clubs that sit on the Port Stephens ClubGRANTS Local Committee but six, including Nelson Bay Bowling Club, were present on Wednesday to distribute the funds including Wests Nelson Bay Diggers, Soldiers Point Bowling Club, Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, Lemon Tree Passage Bowling Club and Karuah RSL.

Mr McCarthy said the club donated its portion of funds to the Yacaaba Centre. However, ClubGRANTS is just one avenue the Nelson Bay club supports the community. 

“Ninety per cent of our donations are given outside ClubGRANTS,” he said. “We’ve given $80,000 worth of grants in kind and cash in the past year.”

Category one funding is for projects that supports community welfare, social services, health service, and development, employment assistance activities and projects aimed at improving the living standards of low income and disadvantaged people.