Council Announces 2025/26 Community Financial Assistance Recipients

Published on 16 December 2025

Five community groups have received funding towards local projects, community events and facility improvements through Round One of Narrabri Shire Council’s 2025/ 26 Community Financial Assistance Program.

Held in the Council Chambers, the official ceremony and deed signing recognised the valuable contribution each organisation makes to the Narrabri Shire community and the importance of Council’s role in supporting projects that deliver social, economic and community-wide benefits.

A total of $12,398 was distributed across the five successful organisations:

• Baan Baa Community Hall Incorporated –$3,000 to purchase meeting room furniture and establish a dedicated community meeting space within the Baan Baa Hall.
• Boggabri Joeys Playgroup – $500 to purchase new water play tables to support their volunteer-run early childhood playgroup.
• Narrabri and District Tennis Association – $2,898 towards the installation of a screen mesh banner around the street-facing tennis courts.
• Wee Waa Chamber of Commerce – $3,000 to support the 2025 Christmas Street Carnival.
• Yarrie Lake Landcare Group - $3,000 towards workshops to build Indian Myna bird traps.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Darrell Tiemens acknowledged the dedication of the volunteers behind each project.

“The Christmas season is often called the season of giving, and volunteering truly embodies that. When you give your time to your community, you gain so much more in return”, he said.

“I want to acknowledge the incredible volunteers behind these projects – their hard work, passion and commitment all contribute to the fabric of what makes a great community like ours”.

“It can be daunting to apply for local government grants, and I commend each group for their dedication. These programs are incredibly rewarding for Council and we are proud to support initiatives that help get meaningful projects off the ground,” Mayor Tiemens added.

As part of wider planning for the remainder of this Council term, Council has also endorsed a funding commitment until 2028/29 to support the much-loved annual Community Christmas Events and business awards delivered by the Shire’s Chamber of Commerce in Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri. As well as providing financial support for the delivery of military and war remembrance services in Narrabri, Wee Waa, Boggabri and Baan Baa.

This long-term allocation supports essential event logistics, compliance requirements and traffic management measures, ensuring these important events can continue to be delivered safely and in partnership with local community groups. Because these future allocations draw from the same funding pool, there will be no Round Two of the Community Financial Assistance Program for the 2025/26 financial year.

The next round of Community Financial Assistance will be Round One for 2026/27, with applications opening in August next year. 

Image caption (left to right): Steve Eather, Rob Butler, Mayor Darrell Tiemens, Christian Peterson, Catherine Davis, Ellen McClung, Cassie Boyd and Kate Alberry (Director of Development & Compliance).