Three Moree volunteer organisations will turn almost $6,000 in federal funding into new equipment for local sport and the Moree Show.
Moree Football Club received $2,733, Moree Junior Soccer Club received $2,000 and Moree Show Society received $1,200 through the 2025–26 Volunteer Grants program.
Moree Football Club will put its funding towards new six-a-side soccer goals, with the grant covering about half the cost.
Club member Sam Adams said the goals would be used for training and could also help the club introduce a six-a-side competition in the future.
“We are hoping to buy some proper six-a-side soccer goals so that we can use them for training and to hopefully run a six-a-side soccer comp at some point in the future,” Mr Adams said.
The club currently has two teams in Moree’s five-team senior competition. Mr Adams said a smaller six-a-side format could give people another way to play locally, while also helping attract players to the regular competition.
“We like our full 11-a-side and we want to keep that going, but we understand that that’s possibly not for everyone,” he said.
Moree Junior Soccer Club will use its $2,000 to buy an announcement system, making it easier to communicate across the different fields during games, carnivals and presentations.
Ben Dawson said the club had about 350 playing members this year, making clear communication across the grounds difficult.
“It’s hard to sort of talk to everyone at the same time,” Mr Dawson said.
The club caters for children from five-year-old Mini Roos through to high-school-aged players, with parent volunteers helping manage teams throughout the season.
Moree Show Society will use its $1,200 to upgrade a PA system first purchased with the help of a Volunteer Grant in 2013.
Show Society secretary Karen Munn said buying its own equipment had helped reduce the cost of running the annual show, which previously hired items including its PA system, tables and chairs.
Four speakers from the existing system were damaged by flooding while stored at the Moree Showground and have already been replaced. Mrs Munn said the latest grant would cover the new PA unit needed to complete the upgrade.
The funding comes as the society continues to manage significant running costs, including an annual insurance bill of almost $7,000.
“We managed to run it like a business so that we’re not overspending and we keep viable,” Mrs Munn said.
“We’re just trying to keep our head above water. That’s the whole aim.”
The three Moree organisations were among 42 groups across the Parkes electorate to share $62,966 through the 2025–26 Volunteer Grants program.
The organisations first submitted expressions of interest to Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey’s office before selected groups were invited to apply for the grants through the Australian Government.
