Like many community groups across the northern NSW regions, Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation was impacted by the recent flooding, losing valuable equipment used to conduct their programs.
Taking out the April round of Greater Bank’s #GreaterMidNorthCoast community funding program could not have been more timely with the $2000 first prize going directly to replacing the equipment.
Based in Grafton, Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation helps young indigenous people understand and appreciate their heritage and cultural identity, which is vital to preserving the incredible knowledge and legacy of their forebears.
Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation CEO and Director, Aneika Kapeen, said the organisation develops programs to address gaps it identifies in the community.
“We are an Aboriginal owned and run not-for-profit charity with a focus on ensuring our youth of tomorrow have a strong cultural identity,”Aneika said.
“This is very important because we need them to become proud knowledge holders to ensure the sustainability and preservation of culture.
“We also operate programs that use culture as a foundation and align with the government ‘Closing The Gap’ initiatives. These include early intervention and education of children aged up to five years, and increasing youth attendance and Aboriginal year 12 attainment rates.
“We lost quite a bit of stuff we rely on for our projects, like gazebos and tables, in the recent floods, so we’re very appreciative of this support from Greater Bank, which will help cover the cost of replacing those items.”
Aneika Kapeen, Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation CEO and Director.
Also benefiting from the April funding round were runners up, Mid North Coast Writer's Centre and Forster Surf Life Saving Club, both receiving $500.
Greater Bank’s Mid North Coast Regional Sales Manager, Jennifer Smith, said retaining cultural identity is vital for young indigenous Australians.
“While the elders are the current keepers of the stories, the knowledge and the wisdom, young people are the elders of the future and they need to know their history,” Jennifer said.
“Greater Bank is delighted to be able to support the Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation to do this important work.”
Nominees for the May round of the #GreaterMidNorthCoast Community Funding Program are Kindilan Early Childhood Centre – Tuncurry, Port Macquarie Public School and Mitchells Island Public School P&C, with all three to share in $3,000 of monthly funding.
The public online vote is now open at www.greater.com.au/greatermidnorthcoast and closes at 5:00pm Wednesday, 25 May, 2022.