MOREE and District Historical Society and Country Universities Centre North West have been named among 10 grant recipients of the Port of Newcastle’s 2025 Your Port, Our Community grants program.

The program, with $100,000 distributed, covers Port of Newcastle’s catchment, spanning from Newcastle across most of far-west, central, and north-western New South Wales, with Christmas coming early for the two well-known Moree organisations.

Moree and District Historical Society received $1795 and Country Universities Centre North West received $10,000.

Society grants officer, Michael McNamara, said the grant will be used to purchase a portable defibrillator for the Moree Plains Museum.

“A portable defibrillator is something we hope we never have to use, but should the unexpected happen, we want to have the equipment to be able to assist in an emergency,” Mr McNamara said.

Moree Plains Museum, in the historic Lands Office building on Frome Street, is open each Monday, Tuesday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

CUC North West’s Auburn Street office – with a centre also at Narrabri – was opened in Moree six years ago as an affiliate of Country Universities Centre, with support from the NSW Government, Narrabri Shire Council and Moree Plains Shire Council.

CUC North West Centre manager, Shayne Miller, said their $10,000 grant will go towards funding a virtual reality careers pathway program, designed to engage and inspire local high school students.

“Through this initiative, students across our region will have the opportunity to explore more than 30 different career options in an immersive, virtual environment,” Ms Miller said.

Moree and District Historical Society and Country Universities Centre North West have each received $10,000 under the Port of Newcastle’s 2025 Your Port, Our Community grants program.

“We appreciate the support of Port of Newcastle and are excited to bring this technology to schools across the north-west in 2026.”

Port of Newcastle corporate affairs executive manager, Lucas Coleman, said the Port was thrilled to be able to provide additional support to important regional communities like the north-west, while continuing to advocate for future trade growth and development for these areas.

“The New England and north-west, particularly Moree and Narrabri, are significant agricultural trade regions for Port of Newcastle, so it is wonderful to be able to further our support in these communities through our annual Your Port, Our Community grants,” Mr Coleman said.

“In fact, the first grain train in more than six years to travel the upgraded Inland Rail arrived at Port Newcastle last year with canola from Croppa Creek, north of Moree.

“With Christmas around the corner, we hope this funding brightens the spirits of these two very deserving local organisations, while providing some added certainty heading into 2026,” he said.

State Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, welcomed the funding as a boost to the Moree community.

“Community organisations are the heart of towns and rural communities within the Northern Tablelands community,” Mr Moylan said.

“They bring people together, celebrate our history and make a positive contribution to our region.

“These groups operate with limited financial resources, and often much of the work they do is reliant on grant funding, so we are incredibly grateful to Port of Newcastle for its ongoing support of local  organisations and residents within the Northern Tablelands, and north-west, particularly through its Your Port, Our Community grants,” he said.

Organisations to receive Your Port, Our Community grant funding in 2025 

Cerebral Palsy Alliance, to fund the fit-out of the accessible gym at their new Hunter Disability Centre in Beresfield, which will support therapy, health, and wellbeing programs for people of all ages with complex disabilities.

Hunter Melanoma Foundation, to fund the delivery of free Skin Check Clinics and sun safety awareness in the Hunter.

Home in Place, to run its Curious Minds STEM workshops at schools in Newcastle, Cessnock, Dubbo, and Broken Hill.

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, to go towards restocking emergency staples at their Maitland and Newcastle hubs, providing direct client assistance through food and fuel vouchers, and supplying Christmas hampers to families doing it tough.

Moree and District Historical Society, to purchase a portable defibrillator for the Moree Plains Museum.

Cancer Patients Foundation, to enable an additional 100 people in the Hunter New England Health District undergoing cancer treatment to take part in their Look Good Feel Better program.

Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, to provide free lawn care for people undergoing breast cancer treatment in Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Dungog.

Country Universities Centre North West, to deliver career pathway programs using VR technology that encourage students to explore career opportunities and tertiary education.

Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage, to install public boating and water safety signage at their Emergency Services Hub.

Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW-ACT, to fund children’s essential therapies, adaptive equipment and wigs in the Newcastle region not covered by government, NDIS, or Medicare.

The $100,000 in grant funding is in addition to the $1 million Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund, which supports projects that revitalise the port and surrounding area, and is administered by the NSW Government.