The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) supports the development of regional community foundations, and uses seed funding and challenge grants to move regional development project funding into a more dynamic context. To date, FRRR has allocated $9.2 million to communities across the nation and has leveraged many millions more supporting projects that stimulate the renewal of whole communities.

In 2001, Organics for Rural Australia (ORA) was the winner of a $100,000 FRRR grant in the Category of “Environmental projects which add value to existing products, demonstrate best practice in natural resource management and sustainable development and/or create jobs in new or emerging environment related businesses”.

ORA’s pilot project has been designed to train and mentor landholders in the entire Western Division region of NSW in organic meat management and production. The vastness of relatively pristine land in these more remote regions of rural Australia has a natural advantage when it comes to meeting the environment criteria for organic production.

“FRRR’s support, in conjunction with the West 2000 Plus program, has encouraged Western Division landholders to take up the challenge of organic farming to create a diverse prosperous future for rural Australia.

FRRR has been inspiring for me. They have taught me to keep believing in what can be achieved with a vision and the commitment to make it happen.

With a rural upbringing, and limited proposal writing and negotiation skills, dealing with FRRR assisted me to build these skills.

Without their belief in me and ongoing support we could never have achieved the outstanding results to date.”

Janie McClure
Director, ORA