Growers support charities with record $250,000 donation
The CBH Group and growers have continued their strong support of Western Australian charities with a record $250,000 donation from grain voluntarily forfeited as part of the continuing successful Harvest Mass Management Scheme (HMMS).
Developed in conjunction with Main Roads WA, HMMS seeks to reduce the frequency of overloaded grain trucks at harvest time.
Under the HMMS, during harvest growers can forfeit grain from overloaded trucks which is then sold with the funds provided to Western Australian charities.
The charities are nominated by growers and CBH employees.
CBH Chairman Wally Newman said that prior to HMMS being introduced, in the 2005/06 harvest, CBH estimated that more than 60,000 overloaded truckloads arrived at CBH receival sites.
“As a consequence, the HMMS was instigated to curtail the overloading of grain trucks and during the past ten years we’ve seen a strong decline in the rate of overloaded trucks,” he said.
“Between the 2008/09 and 2018/19 harvests, the rate of overloaded trucks arriving at a CBH sites has reduced from 1.27 per cent to 0.4 per cent – a 70 per cent reduction in the rate.
“The scheme is unlike any other initiative. Never in the history of Western Australian road transport, has there been such an effective and practical deterrent to overloading, so much so that no one intentionally overloads when delivering to CBH.”
In addition to the overloading reduction, Mr Newman said that since the scheme started to return proceeds to Western Australian charities in 2012, more than $1.4 million had been donated.
This includes a record $250,000 following the 2018/19 harvest partly due to high grain prices from the sale of the 687 tonnes of grain that was surrendered.
“CBH is committed to safer roads and supporting regional communities, and through HMMS, growers are extending their support for charities that play a key role in their backyard,” he said.
At an event on Friday 7 June, Mr Newman presented cheques to the 13 recipient charities for this year.
These included the Country Women’s Association of WA; Ronald McDonald House; St John Ambulance; Lifeline WA; Cancer Council WA; Anglicare; PCH Foundation; Wheatbelt Men’s Health; Comfort Quilts Against Cancer; Youth Focus; Heart Kids WA; Foodbank; and Camp Kulin.
Details of the 13 charities receiving funding are below:
|
Recipient |
Amount |
Purpose |
|
Youth Focus |
$50,000 |
The funds will be used to support Youth Focus offices in Albany and Geraldton to deliver face to face counselling services to 12-25s and web counselling service in Moora, Dalwallinu, Merredin, Wagin, and Northam |
|
Ronald McDonald House |
$30,000 |
The Work of Heart program – a curriculum aligned session that supports sick children and their siblings living in the Ronald McDonald House with their homework and education |
|
St John Ambulance WA |
$20,000 |
An additional 11 Automated External Defibrillators in grain growing regions |
|
Camp Kulin |
$20,000 |
Financially support 54 children from grain growing regions into Camp Kulin for the school holiday camp programs |
|
Country Women’s Association WA |
$20,000 |
The funds will go towards the Sir James Mitchell Education and Welfare Fund Drought Relief, which supports individuals and families experiencing financial hardship, in particular with education |
|
Wheatbelt Mens Health |
$20,000 |
Supporting and delivering the Regional Men’s Health Initiative |
|
Lifeline |
$20,000 |
The funds will assist lifeline to train more volunteers to ensure no call goes unanswered. |
|
Heart Kids WA |
$15,000 |
The funds will be used to provide dedicated support services for grain growing families |
|
Cancer Council WA |
$15,000 |
The Cancer Council WA has Regional Cancer Support Coordinators and Rural Cancer Nurse Coordinators |
|
PCH Foundation |
$15,000 |
Children’s Hospital Foundation Regional Assistance Fund which assists with accommodation costs for regional families while in Perth with a child at PMH |
|
Anglicare |
$10,000 |
Assist to provide social service in Katanning and Albany |
|
Foodbank |
$10,000 |
Many schools located within our grain growing regions participate in the School Breakfast Program. |
|
Comfort Quilts Against Cancer |
$5,000 |
Provides funds to purchase materials to make 55 quilts for regional cancer patients |