Pictured above: Queensland Country Bank Magnetic Island Branch Manager, Belinda Rimmer & Dr, Alison Bee.
The Magnetic Island Koala Hospital can now continue providing gold standard hospital care to local wildlife, thanks to a Queensland Country Good for Good Community Grant.
Owner of the Magnetic Island Koala Hospital, Alison Bee, says the $10,000 grant will be put towards the expansion of a larger clinic, assisting the hospital in accommodating for their ever-increasing annual patient admission rate.
“The current clinical facilities of the Magnetic Island Koala Hospital have become stretched to their limits,” says Ms Bee.
“The funding received will help us fit out a purpose-built koala and wildlife hospital to be able to continue to provide care for more Magnetic Island Wildlife, which is ever increasing.
“Since we treat, rehabilitate and care for the animals, we rely heavily on grants, so we are very thankful to Queensland Country Bank for all their support.”
Queensland Country Bank Magnetic Island Branch Manager, Belinda Rimmer, says she is delighted that a local association was one of eight community groups throughout Queensland to receive a share of over $120,000 grant funding awarded in this year’s grants, which had a particular focus on supporting sustainability initiatives.
“As a member-owned organisation, we’re committed to not only reducing our own footprint, but supporting Members and local communities with adopting sustainability initiatives,” says Ms Rimmer.
“We take great pride in being able to reinvest our profits back into creating healthy and sustainable communities and assist the Magnetic Island Koala Hospital in maintaining their important care of our local wildlife.”
The next round of Queensland Country Good for Good Community Grants is now open, and for the first time since its inception, community groups no longer need to be a Member of Queensland Country Bank at the time of their application.
“With grants up to $30,000 available, we encourage any eligible community groups who are looking to deliver projects that make a practical difference to the lives of the people in their communities to apply,” says Ms Rimmer.
“Last year's grant round saw us invest over $128,000 into a range of sporting, health and environmental initiatives, all of which have provided improved facilities which make a positive difference in the community.
“It is all part of our difference being a member-owned bank, which enables us to reinvest our profits back into supporting the local communities that support us.”
This is the sixth year that Queensland Country Bank has run the Good for Good Community Grants program. It follows a long history of supporting the community through grants with over $2.4 million injected into Queensland community projects since 2005. Applications close Sunday, 31 July 2022.