Dalmeny’s volunteer firefighters will be less fatigued and more efficient, after a grant from the IMB Bank Community Foundation in its 2017 round of funding.
There is no question that fire fighting is labour intensive and extremely tiring for those involved and improvements in equipment can make a real difference at the height of a bushfire.
With funds from an IMB Bank Community Foundation grant, the Dalmeny RFS Brigade plans to install electric hose reels that can feed out a 60m-long hose in 8-10 minutes. That will help its crews combat operational fatigue as well as improve efficiency.
In June, the IMB Bank Community Foundation pledged another $500,000 to 50 projects across the areas in which it operates, including funding for a sand blaster cabinet for the Narooma Men’s Shed metal workshop, to enable a safe and efficient environment for members to broaden their metalwork area capabilities.
That way, they will be able to cope with a 300 per cent increase in requests for metalwork from various local groups.
The Community Foundation is also supporting another 10 projects on the Far South Coast in 2017, bringing the total funding to $953,223 of 87 projects in the past 18 years. Narooma projects have received $104,075 of funding in that time.
In the 18 years since the IMB Bank Community Foundation was established, thousands of people who live and work in the communities IMB Bank serves have benefited from $8.6m in funding to 600 local projects.
“Our goal at IMB Bank is to make our members and our communities better off and it’s wonderful and humbling to see so many organisations and initiatives making a real difference in the lives of people in our local communities. We’re proud that our Foundation improves the sustainability of so many projects that support our communities,” said Robert Ryan, CEO of IMB Bank.
IMB Bank Community Foundation Chair, Ms Jan Swinhoe, commended the recipients and thanked them for their dedication.
“Many of these worthwhile projects would not be able to operate without a small army of volunteers who are willing to give up their time and skills to help others,” Ms Swinhoe said.
“I congratulate you and, on behalf of the entire community, I recognise and applaud your hard work and selfless commitment.”
Ms Swinhoe said the Foundation had received more than 250 applications and the selection process was always tough for the committee.
“We look for projects that will become self-sustainable, in the long term, and will provide services for a wide range of community interests,” she said.
“The committee works with people from each project to learn more about them before they are funded and we continue to be amazed and inspired.”
