What’s Happening?
Queensland Country Bank has announced the recipients of its 2025 Good for Good Community Grants Program, awarding a record $150,000 to 15 not-for-profit organisations across Queensland.
Townsville’s Fuel For Schools Ltd is among the recipients, receiving funding to purchase a much-needed vehicle to support its breakfast program for children in North and North-West Queensland.
Why It Matters?
The Good for Good Community Grants Program addresses critical community needs across Queensland, from nutrition and education to sustainability and inclusivity.
For Townsville, this funding supports a vital program that improves school attendance, behaviour, and learning outcomes by ensuring children have access to nutritious breakfasts.
Local Impact
Fuel For Schools’ new vehicle will enable the seamless delivery of food supplies to schools in North Queensland, ensuring the continued success of their Fuelling the Future Program.
Operations Manager Paddy Pool highlighted the impact of the grant, saying: “Schools that were running breakfast clubs one to two days per week quickly realised that on these days school attendance was up along with behaviour and attention to learn. This grant will give us the ability to continue to provide our Fuelling the Future Program without the uncertainty of not having the van.”
The vehicle will play a crucial role in the logistics of the program, as Pool explained: “The vehicle is instrumental in us collecting food from donors in Ingham, Townsville, The Burdekin and Charters Towers and delivering to our depot before heading out again to the Breakfast Clubs at State Primary and Secondary Schools.”
Queensland Country Bank CEO Aaron Newman emphasised the importance of programs like these for regional communities, saying: “Community groups from Cairns to Brisbane, Weipa, Mount Isa and down to Stanthorpe will next year receive Good for Good Grants, and we could not be more excited to make such a difference with them. Many smaller regional and remote communities really rely on not-for-profit groups to help improve the liveability of their local communities, and we are pleased to be able to support the work of some of these community groups with their projects. It’s about doing good for good.”
By the Numbers
- $150,000 Total Funding: Shared among 15 organisations in 2025.
- 3 Million Dollars: Invested back into Queensland communities by Queensland Country Bank since 2005.
- 15 Organisations: A record number of recipients for the program, with grants of up to $30,000 each.
Zoom In
Fuel For Schools has significantly impacted the region’s educational outcomes, with many schools reporting better attendance and improved classroom engagement on breakfast club days.
The grant ensures the program continues to meet growing demand without logistical challenges.
Zoom Out
The 15 recipients span Queensland, addressing a diverse range of community needs:
- Far North Queensland Wild Life Rescue (Cairns): Supporting wildlife rescue and care operations.
- COUCH Wellness Centre (Cairns): Offering free cancer therapy workshops.
- Mulgrave Combined Cricket Association (Yarrabah): Promoting female participation in cricket, focusing on Indigenous and Indian communities.
- Outback at Isa (Mount Isa): Creating an Indigenous-themed feature wall with at-risk youth.
- Mount Isa and District Athletics Club: Providing shade tents for athletes and parents.
- Weipa Early Childhood Education Association Inc: Installing natural playground equipment.
- Fuel For Schools Ltd (Townsville): Purchasing a vehicle to support their breakfast program.
- Charters Towers Civic Club Incorporated: Installing solar power for sustainability.
- Mackay Surf Life Saving Club Inc: Installing beach access matting for inclusivity.
- Big Birds Nest Childcare Centre (Ayr): Purchasing cots for safe sleep practices.
- Collinsville Community Association: Painting interactive games for youth activities.
- Stanthorpe & District Cricket Association Inc: Upgrading cricket covers and water management equipment.
- Western Districts Netball Association (Brisbane): Supporting migrant and refugee students with fees and equipment.
- Cystic Fibrosis Queensland: Providing spirometers to monitor lung health in remote areas.
- Bramble Bay Women’s Shed (North Lakes): Upgrading safety and infrastructure for the community.
What to Look For Next?
Watch as Fuel For Schools expands its program with the new vehicle, ensuring nutritious breakfasts continue to support education in North Queensland.
Stay tuned for updates on other grant-funded projects improving lives across the state.
Queensland Country Bank’s 2025 Good for Good Community Grants exemplify the power of community partnerships, making meaningful differences in Townsville and beyond.
