Last Wednesday Tim and I attended the annual Council award presentation at Woollahra Council Chambers. After enjoying a wonderful view of the harbour from the Council lawn, and wishing we’d brought our swimmers for a dip in Redleaf pool, we settled into our seats for the awards ceremony. 

We really enjoyed hearing descriptions of the wide range of community events that were being awarded grants for the coming financial year, and we felt chuffed when a photo from our Community Lunch was used on the intro slide for the Community & Cultural Grants section (see photo). 

A few of the grant recipients that took my fancy included:

   Seniors Week Gatsby High Tea & Dance Celebration (sounds fun!)

   Dressability Inclusive Fashion Styling Workshop (I’d like to sign up for that)

   Intergenerational Connections through Art – Workshops and Morning Tea (sounds like what I do with the grandkids)

   Gift Givers from the Deep: This project will activate the Murray Rose Swimming Pool in a free, community participation, celebratory performance spectacular on 14 December (that I’ve got to see!)

As well as Community & Cultural Grants, there were grants awarded for Environmental, Placemaking and Business projects. Following the awarding of certificates, mandatory hand shakes and group photos, we mingled out in the sunshine and enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea. 

We at SHAP appreciate the support given to us by Woollahra Council, and particularly our Council liaison person Emma Rodgers-Wilson who has been so helpful, for the third year in a row, which enables us to keep prices low for our monthly Community Lunches whilst providing high quality and plentiful yummy food. 

It’s great to see our Council working to build community connections in a diverse range of organisations and projects, and we at SHAP are proud to be part of this great initiative. Our Community Lunches are all about making positive connections and creating high quality, enjoyable occasions, open to all. 

Do come along and join us on Wednesday 7th August at 11:30 at St Peters hall and check it out for yourself, either as a guest or a helper. 

Meg Matthews