Community organisations in Yass have received government grants to help pay for their volunteer fuel costs and to purchase much-needed equipment. The Springfield Rural Fire Brigade, near Murrumbateman, received an amount of $5,000 from the federal government’s Volunteer Grants initiative and will be purchasing a barbecue trailer with the money.

The Fire Brigade members have been extremely grateful for the contributions from the government stating it has come at the right moment where they have been strapped for funds. The group will use the government grants and conduct barbecue for fundraisers as well as to cater when there is an incident and hungry fire fighters need to be fed.

The Yass Valley Men’s Shed will be spending $3,850 thanks to the volunteer grant. The money is going toward a dust extractor for the workshop and to hire an electrician to tidy up the electrical systems to ensure an important safety aspect of the shed.

The Men’s Shed, which provides a safe and busy environment where local men can be productive and contribute to the community in an atmosphere of mateship, also received two other government grants recently; one from the Yass and District Garden Club and another from the Yass Valley Council. The Men’s Shed will put these federal grants toward improving the garden and purchasing some exercise equipment for the community centre.

The Binalong Rescue Squad received $1,800 which they hope to put toward a new generator. Paul Vasey from the squad said the money was very helpful in terms of alleviating pressure on the local community. The NRMA had also recently contributed a Hydraulic Motor to the squad.

The Binalong VRA recently travelled to the Deniliquin Ute Muster to help with any problems that might have arisen. Mr Vasey said the four members were very busy throughout the weekend, one member putting in 14 hours of work.