• Ten community organisations in the Wagga Wagga region have received between $670 and $1,000 through the Charles Sturt University 2024 Community University Partnership (CUP) Grants program to support their activities.

Charles Sturt University has awarded a total of $9,676 to 10 organisations in the Wagga Wagga region as part of the 2024 Community University Partnership (CUP) Grants program.

Three of the organisations that received 2024 CUP grants in Wagga Wagga are the Willans Hill School, Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group and Wagga Wagga Lake Run and Ride.

Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement in Wagga Wagga Mr David Bardos said the CUP Grant program is designed to assist regional projects that support cultural, economic, sporting and environmental development or higher education aspirations, particularly among youth in the University’s region.

“At Charles Sturt University, we are proud to help our local communities develop throughout our regional footprint and are committed to supporting their continued positive impact through the projects and initiatives they deliver.” Mr Bardos said.

Willans Hill School received an Education Development CUP grant valued at $676 to build a chicken run as part of a sustainable and educational chicken program.

The school’s Assistant Principal Ms Shae O’Kane said the project would benefit their 67 students, who have moderate or severe intellectual disabilities, physical disability, language or sensory impairment and/or neuro-developmental disorders.

“We are incredibly grateful to Charles Sturt University and its CUP Grants program, as the grant has allowed us to redesign our chicken run, transforming it into a much-loved space for both teachers and students,” Ms O’Kane said.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would have therapy chickens for our students, who absolutely adore them, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without this support.”

Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group received a $1,000 Environmental Sustainability Grant to supply and erect gates at the Coolamon Road environmental reserve (Crown Land).

The volunteer group’s Treasurer Ms Ros Prangnell said the access would allow them to manage the biodiversity of the reserve as an important biological hotspot.

“As guardians of the reserve, this grant will help us gain safe access to carry out management duties such as weed removal and regeneration and will allow safe vehicular access to bring in tools and equipment,” Ms Prangnell said.

Manager of Sustainability at Charles Sturt Mr Ed Maher said initiatives such as this were a vital part of the University’s ethos of ‘Yindyamarra Winhanganha’ - The wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in.

“It is so pleasing we can help to enable wonderful community and environmental outcomes by supporting the valuable on-ground work of these groups,” Mr Maher said.

Wagga Wagga Lake Run and Ride Incorporated received a Health and Wellbeing CUP grant of $1,000 to fund their annual event of the same name.

Wagga Wagga Lake Run and Ride President Mr Phil Roy said the event, which involved a five or 10km run, walk or cycle, encouraged more than 900 annual participants to lead healthier lives.

“We take pride in being one of the few remaining freefun runs in Australia, operating since 1972,” Mr Roy said.

“Each year Charles Sturt helps promote participation among students and staff, offering free run singlets to registered participants from the University community, along with Charles Sturt having an active presence at the event, and we’re thrilled to have their continued support in 2024.”

In 2024 Charles Sturt University received 160 CUP grant applications across its regional NSW footprint, with 73 projects awarded a total of $70,283.

Grant categories include Arts and Culture, Sports Development, Education Development, Health and Wellbeing and Environmental Sustainability.

Applications for the 2025 Charles Sturt CUP Grants program open at the beginning of next year and can be made via the ‘Grants’ page on the Charles Sturt website.