NQBP Expands Support With $100,000 Community Funding

Support for the region’s homeless, young indigenous entrepreneurs, local beach lifesavers,
dementia patients, and those living with disabilities will be boosted through North Queensland
Bulk Ports Corporation’s (NQBP’s) 2024-25 Community Fund.

Fourteen Community Fund recipients will share $100,000 in funding, with each initiative
expected to deliver strong benefits across NQBP’s port communities, in what is the most
diverse range of recipients in the Fund’s three-year history.

NQBP Chief Executive Officer Brendan Webb congratulated the fourteen Community Fund
recipients.

“We had more than 50 strong applications in our third year of the Community Fund from a large
range of community groups across all of our port communities,” Mr Webb said.

“Our team worked carefully to evaluate each application, and I am proud to say each of our
successful applicants demonstrated an ability to make a real difference in their respective
communities.

“All the initiatives supported have a strong alignment with NQBP’s values of Care, Connection,
Courage and Curiosity.

“I am also pleased that this year, due to our increase in funding, we were able to support an
additional five community groups, up to fourteen from nine in the previous two years.

“I would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this year’s Community Fund, and we
encourage all community groups to consider applying for our next round,” he said.

Crossroads Arts CEO Autumn Skuthorpe was pleased to be a successful applicant.

“Our event, Loose Ends, celebrates the diversity of our community as part of International Day
for People with Disability celebrations,” Ms Skuthorpe said.

“The support from NQBP will ensure that Crossroad Arts can provide paid opportunities during
Loose Ends for artists with disability, and celebrate arts for all,” she said.

The NQBP Community Fund is open to non-profit groups and organisations, and registered
charities, and seeks to support events, programs and activities that align with NQBP’s vision to
be a leader in responsible port trade, where Queenslanders thrive for generations.

NQBP has proudly provided more than $1 million in community sponsorships and donations
over the last decade.

A full list of the 2024-25 Community Fund recipients is below:

Crossroad Arts Inc - An inclusive night-time activity in the Mackay CBD for young people with disabilities.
Community Accommodation & Support Agency - Food packs to assist rough sleepers during extended closures of major services, such as over Christmas.
   • Stella Maris Mackay - A Christmas shoe box and bag appeal to support seafarers at the ports of Mackay, Hay Point, and Abbot Point.
   • Whitsunday Community Services Inc - Equipment to expand The Pantry Program into a dedicated food bank, providing groceries through food rescue and donations.
   • Zonta Club of Mackay Inc - Hosting the 2025 International Women’s Day Lunch.
   • Bowen Community Centre - The Pram Pusher Group, creating a supportive space for mothers to connect through light exercise with their babies, and a Cooking Class project bringing older community members and new mums together to share budget-friendly recipes.
   • Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club - An intensive training camp in collaboration with clubs from the Wide Bay and Southeast regions.
   • Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc. (PAYA) - A two-day Youth Entrepreneurship Regional Summit (YERS) held in Weipa.
   • Bowen Historical Society and Museum - Construction of a wheelchair-accessible ramp to improve access to the museum.
   • Weipa Running Festival 2025 - Hosting the Weipa Running Festival.
   • Bowen Old People's Home Society Ltd - Establishing a Dementia Café at Murroona Gardens in Bowen.
   • Bowen Flexi Care Inc. - The Digging to Dining project, an all-abilities garden initiative.
   • Port Denison Sailing Club - Replacing one of the motors on the club’s coaching and safety boat.
   • Whitsunday STEM Challenge Inc. - The Whitsunday Drone Challenge (WDC), a key event during the Festival of STEM.

NQBP is a Queensland Government-owned corporation responsible for the ports of Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point, and Weipa in far north Queensland.

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Crossroad Arts Inc will receive funding for an inclusive night-time activity in the Mackay CBD for young people with disability
Representatives from NQBP 2024-25 Community Fund recipients from Crossroad Arts, Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club, Zonta Club of Mackay and Stella Maris Seafarers Centre at last night's stakeholder event. Photos supplied
Mackay Surf Lifesaving club will receive funding to assist with costs for an intensive training camp

Zonta Club of Mackay will receive funds to host its 2025 International Women’s Day lunch

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