News & Blogs | Williams Landing

Q&A with 2023 Community Grant Recipients

Written by Cedar Woods | May 26, 2023 12:28:00 AM

Cedar Woods has announced the Victorian recipients of its Community Grants program for 2023, with funding allocated directly benefitting local communities where Cedar Woods’ developments are located. 

  We’re pleased to announce that eight organisations have been selection to share in the funding in 2023, including the Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library and the Western Region Football League Umpires Association. 

With branches in Werribee, Manor Lakes and Point cook, the Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library is one of the largest in Australia, providing over 3,000 toys for the families in Melbourne’s west. 

Beginning as the Footscray District Football League Umpires Association in 1931, the Western Region Football League Umpires Association provides support to and advocates for the Western Regional Football League and its umpires, having produced 21 past and present VFL and AFL umpires. 

We recently sat down with the Toy Library’s Secretary Brenda Green and the Umpires Association’s Secretary Terry O'Donnell to learn a bit more about their organisations and how they plan to use their funding. 

How did you hear about the Community Grants program and why did you decide to apply? 

Brenda Green, Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library 

Our committee is always on the look out for fundraising opportunities and grant applications, so when we were made aware that applications for the 2023 Community Grants program were open applying was an easy decision to make. 

Terry O’Donnell, Western Region Football League Umpires Association 

We were looking for a way to fund the recruitment and training of new umpires for next season, and this just so happened to coincide with the applications for the 2023 Community Grants opening. After discussing it with our board, we decided to apply. 

How will you be using your funding and how will this help to support your organisation? 

Brenda Green, Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library 

We will be using our funding to purchase a range of high quality toys for our collection which will help us to keep our services as affordable and accessible as possible for the families of Wyndham. 

Terry O’Donnell, Western Region Football League Umpires Association 

This funding will be used to recruit and train umpires across our three Wyndham academies. As we don’t charge any membership fees, our funding largely comes from sponsorships and grants, so this funding will allow us to continue to promote the role of young WFRL umpires.