1st Moree Scouts, Moree Show Society and the Weemelah Hall Committee share $9,000 from Council’s Public Donations Fund. The panels show, from left, a handshake beside a forklift, members of 1st Moree Scouts, and participants at an earlier board workshop at Weemelah Hall. Photo: Moree Plains Shire Council
Thirteen young Scouts are a step closer to an adventure of a lifetime, while two other Moree Plains community groups have received a helping hand to keep local events and traditions thriving.
Moree Plains Shire Council has awarded $9,000 through its Public Donations Fund, with 1st Moree Scouts, Moree Show Society and Weemelah Hall Committee each receiving $3,000.
For the Scouts, the funding will help 13 young people from the Moree region attend the 2028 Australian Scout Jamboree at Elmore in Victoria. The ten-day event, running from 29 December 2027 to 7 January 2028, will bring together thousands of Scouts from across Australia for activities, challenges and new friendships.
Jeremy Barr, from 1st Moree Scouts, welcomed the support, saying it would help young people take part in experiences that can be difficult to access in regional communities. He said the Jamboree would help them build confidence, resilience and leadership skills, while creating friendships and memories that could last a lifetime.
The Moree Show Society will put its $3,000 towards a second forklift to make setting up and packing down the annual show safer and easier. With a small team of volunteers responsible for much of the work, the equipment will help reduce the heavy lifting involved in preparing the showgrounds.
Show Society secretary Karen Munn welcomed the funding and said the forklift would make a valuable difference to volunteers. It will be purchased from local business Keith Maher Forklifts, with Ms Munn also acknowledging the support of the late Keith Maher and Alma Bird.
The Moree Show has been part of the district’s community life since 1874, with its 141st annual event scheduled for 23 and 24 April 2027.
In Weemelah, the Hall Committee will use its $3,000 grant to support the village’s annual Australia Day breakfast and a creative workshop where residents can design and make their own sneakers.
Committee secretary and treasurer Libby McPhee welcomed the funding, saying the workshop would give participants a chance to explore their creativity and enjoy making something themselves. Both activities will provide opportunities for residents of Weemelah and the surrounding district to get together and enjoy time as a community.
Mayor Susannah Pearse acknowledged the dedication of local volunteers and organisations, whose work helps create opportunities and bring communities together across Moree Plains.
The three grants were approved at Council’s 15 October meeting and announced on 28 October. Council’s Public Donations Fund provides $40,000 each year across four quarterly rounds, with eligible community organisations able to apply for up to $3,000.
Applications for the next round close on 11 December 2026. Guidelines and application forms are available on Council’s website (https://www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au/index.php/helping-you-access-information/donations-by-council), or by calling (02) 6757 3222.
