Illawarra Cancer Carers are a not-for-profit group of volunteers, working to improve the caring environment for cancer patients in the Illawarra.
They were the successful applicants of a Horizon Bank Community grant for 2025/26, receiving $5,000 to upgrade sewing machines, which are used by volunteers to make garments. These are then sold to raise funds to help cancer patients in the Illawarra. Proceeds are also used to buy equipment for the Wollongong Cancer Care Centre and for cancer research.
The Illawarra Cancer Carers also upgraded their massage tables and had their Lymphoedema equipment serviced.
Marine Rescue Sussex Inlet was the successful applicant of a Horizon Bank community grant for 2025/26. They serve the boating public (both locals and visitors) in Wreck Bay, Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin and Swan Lake waterways. Their accredited Marine Radio Base operations provide both wellbeing monitoring for vessels, and receiving and responding to phone & radio calls for assistance of varying seriousness, including MAYDAY calls.
The grant of $5,000 was used to purchase a backup generator. Grants Coordinator Neil McCorkell said "This generator has been installed to kick in at the flip of a switch to provide backup power to our base. This provision of backup power will allow us to provide continuous emergency services capability to save lives on the water during times when it is critically needed and mains power is down - i.e.; during flood, fire and storms".
Pictured Left to right: Skippers Aaron, Tony and Jim
1st Austinmer Scout Group recently completed a refurbishment to Austinmer scout Hall, which was co-funded by both a federal grant and a community grant from Horizon Bank. Federal member Alison Byrne met with Scout group members, and Kaylee from Horizon Bank Thirroul to see the outcome of the refurb, which included major roof repairs to the hall.
Paul Rustomji, from Austinmer Scouts said "we are very grateful for the grant funding Horizon Bank has provided to us. It makes a big difference to grass roots community groups such as our scout group and the other hall hirers to be able to maintain our community infrastructure".
The Long Beach Community Association has been announced as a successful recipient of a Horizon Bank Community Grant, securing $2,500 to purchase an alarmed public defibrillator for Long Beach Recreation Park. The lifesaving device was officially unveiled at the Long Beach Christmas Markets on Sunday 14 December, 2025 with Horizon Bank Moruya Branch Manager Jenny McKenzie attending the event to mark the occasion.
Public access defibrillators play a critical role in cardiac emergencies. Research shows that for every minute a person in cardiac arrest does not receive defibrillation; their chance of survival drops by around 10 per cent. (Source: St Johns Ambulance Australia) Having a defibrillator readily available in a well-used community space like Long Beach Recreation Park could be the difference between life and death.
The installation of the defibrillator reflects the community’s commitment to improving safety and reducing the risk of heart-related fatalities in the local area, ensuring residents and visitors alike have access to vital emergency equipment when it is needed most.
Pictured: Ian Gray and Moruya Branch Manager, Jenny McKenzie
Port Kembla Public School were the worthy recipient of a Horizon Bank Community grant for 2024/25. They used their grant for an Indigenous Garden Project which features a Yarning Circle with repurposed sandstone boulders, positioned at the front of the school.
As part of the school's NAIDOC Week celebrations, a traditional smoking ceremony was held to mark the occasion and the completion of the Yarning Circle.
This initiative creates a welcoming and educational space that serves as a reconciliation garden for all students.
Bermagui Preschool Cooperative Society Receives Community Grant from Horizon Bank
The Bermagui Preschool Cooperative Society were a successful Horizon Bank Community grants recipient for the 2024/25 year. They were thrilled to receive $5,000 to be used towards their Moodji Futures Project at the preschool.
With the Horizon Bank grant, the preschool were able to purchase essential materials to assist in bringing the project to life which included building a new multimodal polyhoop workshop. They were also able to purchase materials and tools enabling them to step up farm operations and support volunteers to get involved.
This project will engage people of all ages within the Bega Valley Shire community in many ways – for example their plans to hold interactive workshops, engage with the local school kids, have special guests such as Costa Georgiadis visit & the implementation of a composting hub. In the application Dan Bakker, who is the Project & Events Manager, explains the importance of the project stating Moodji (Moodji means ‘friend’ in the native Djiranganj language) Farm will bolster provincial drought and climate change mitigation initiatives by drawing on local agronomists, Indigenous partners, artists, volunteers and permaculturalists”.
It is clear the focus on sustainability and mitigating the effects of climate change is something that will positively benefit the community for years to come.
Look at those smiling faces!
Pambula Public School P&C used their Horizon community grant funding to purchase new canteen equipment including a stick blender, sandwich press, pie warmer, multi-cooker and other kitchen items that will allow the canteen to continue to provide fresh and healthy food to students.
Pambula Public School P&C Canteen is a not-for-profit service and is staffed by two employees with the help of generous volunteers.
The school canteen prepares healthy, fresh and delicious food for students and staff and is part of a 'whole of school approach' to student health and wellbeing. Most of the food is prepared fresh on site, with many ingredients sourced from the school vegetable garden. The canteen is managed in a sustainable way, with materials composted and recycled where possible. The kitchen items purchased with the grant money will improve efficiency, reduce workloads, and allow the canteen to continue to provide fresh and healthy food to students.
Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.
Recently Moruya Public School P&C Association were the worthy recipients of a $3,500 Horizon Bank Community Grant to assist with their canteen equipment upgrade project, meaning they could purchase a new oven as well as pans, cutting boards and more.
The new oven upgrade was the star of the show, as their old oven had been inoperable for some time due to a shattered glass door. This update to the canteen equipment means that the canteen staff can provide more meals for the hungry Moruya Public School students.
Here you can see the new equipment in action!
Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.
Windang SLSC used their Horizon Community Grant to run an "All in for the Sea" interactive exhibit for visually impaired children and their families. This program created a safe and interactive exhibit for the participants to touch replicate marine life.
There was also great surf education provided in a UV poster created specially for the visually impaired. The highlight and everyone’s favourite part was pretending to be a lifesaver for a day. Everyone got dressed up in red and yellow uniforms and used the surf club facilities and equipment. A great day was had by all.
Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.
The Eurobodalla Woodcraft Guild were thrilled to receive a Community Grant from Horizon Bank totaling $1,958, enabling the purchase of a new chainsaw, case, and helmet set. This essential equipment will enhance the safety and efficiency of their members as they work on local timber projects.
According to Rick Stanford, Vice President of the Guild, the new equipment allows members to safely trim donated tree trunks to fit into their milling machine, resulting in usable timber slabs for various community projects. “This grant will significantly improve our operations and enable us to support even more local initiatives,” Stanford stated in their Grant application.
The Woodcraft Guild has a proud history of providing services to local organisations, including Anglicare, Eurobodalla Council, the Tai Chi Club, and the Moruya Jockey Club. The group benefits from skilled ex-Forestry members who offer safety and usage training, ensuring all members are equipped to handle the equipment responsibly.
Jenny McKenzie, Horizon Bank Moruya Branch Manager, expressed pride in the bank’s commitment to supporting local communities. “The Horizon Bank Community Grants program has delivered over $22,000 to Eurobodalla-based organisations over the last couple of years. We are excited to support initiatives that make a real difference in the community,” Jenny said.
Here you can see one of their senior members, Malcolm, giving a demonstration and training of the new chainsaw to some other members.
Horizon’s Community Grants Program will open for applications in mid-2025.
