A TCF Board member since 2007, Lynn has been prominent in business and local government circles. Lynn was President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania from 2000-2006 and has a strong commitment to, and understanding of, community issues. She is a Director of Quadrant Superannuation Fund and Metro Tasmania, a member of the Stronger Communities Task Force and the Local Government Board, and chairs Tasmanian Affordable Housing Ltd. With her husband she runs farms on Flinders Island and near Carrick in northern Tasmania. Lynn was inducted onto the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women in 2005.

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The three new Board members are Sheryl Thomas, Nell Kuilenberg and Peter Kay. Current Board member Catherine Fernon has also been reappointed for another term, in recognition of her strong contribution to the Board and detailed knowledge of communities, particular on the North-West Coast.
TCF Chair Lynn Mason said the new members would bring a mix of community development, corporate governance, business and communications experience to the Board.
Sheryl has significant experience in a range of community-based programs, particularly in the northern region, while Nell is a development and research manager for the Salvation Army, with 25 years experience working in the community sector. Peter has significant experience in corporate governance, management, public relations and corporate communications. The new Board members were appointed through a rigorous selection process following a call for expressions of interest. A consideration for the appointments was to retain representation on the Board from the north-west, northern, and southern regions of the State.
Ms Mason acknowledged the considerable contribution made by the departing Board members, former Chairman Gerald Loughran, Joan Walters and Becky Shelley. She said the three outgoing members each brought to the Board a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion. The new and ongoing members would work to build on the legacy of all former members to help improve the lives of Tasmanians.

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The announcement followed community and stakeholder feedback on Treasury's Discussion Paper on A New Community Grants Program.

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Applications are being sought for grants in the Fund's latest funding round with up to $2 million expected to be allocated to projects around the State. This is the TCF's 20th grant round and over the past eight years, the Fund has allocated around $48 million to almost 1300 community organisations or projects throughout Tasmania.

TCF Chairwoman Lynn Mason encouraged not-for-profit community organisations to apply for funding for projects designed to enhance well-being and improve social, environmental and economic outcomes for the Tasmanian community. Organisations should be incorporated, or be sponsored by an incorporated organisation and be based in Tasmania or proposing to undertake the project in Tasmania.

"Undoubtedly, the TCF is a valuable source of community funding and with almost $50 million distributed over the past ten years, it has made a real difference to the lives of many Tasmanians," Ms Mason said "We are expecting approximately 200 applications and based on our experience, these will cover a wide range of projects designed to assist a broad cross-section of the Tasmanian community."

The Tasmanian Community Fund was established in 2000 from the proceeds of the sale of the Trust Bank, to make grants for worthwhile community purposes throughout the state. The TCF holds two general grant rounds each year, as well as targeted funding rounds such as the current $9.5 million special initiative titled 'Building Tasmania as the Learning Community' focusing on adult and family literacy.

Applications for grant round 20 opened on February 13 and will close on March 24. The successful projects will be announced in mid-June. A new grant round under the Learning Community initiative will be conducted later this year, as well as general grant round 21 that will be open for applications in July and August. Further details and funding guidelines are available on the TCF website www.tascomfund.org or by contacting the TCF on (03) 6233 2920 or email at admin@tascomfund.org

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In Round 2, more than $1.3 million was granted to eight projects:

• Meenah Mienne - Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association - $345,351 for their Literacy Through Art and Business project.
• Aurora Disability Services - $19,448 for their Equal Access in Literacy project.
• Phoenix Community House - $8,240 for developing Family Literacy Backpacks.
• Centacare Tasmania - $254,536 for their Silver Lining project working with homeless families.
• Glenorchy City Council - $195,480 for Steps to the Future - Learning pathways for young mothers.
• The Smith Family - $353,612 for their Family Learning Clubs project.
• Tasmanian Regional Arts - $28,403 for the Story Exchange project, providing support for adults with low literacy skills.
• Independent Living Centre Tas - $97,500 for their Learning Support for Complex Needs project.

TCF Chairwoman Lynn Mason said the programs all contributed to improving adult and family literacy in one or more of the six key areas - prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy, problem solving, technology and information literacy, and health literacy. She said Tasmania falls behind in a range of educational measures, such as school retention rates, adult literacy and levels of skilled employment. The projects would contribute to the development of social and cultural opportunities for community members, encourage healthier lifestyles, increase life and employment skills, and respond to a genuine community need.

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The Smith Family, which aims to develop Family Learning Clubs in disadvantaged Tasmanian communities, has been granted $353,612 by the TCF to establish and maintain eight clubs across Tasmania. The Smith Family Regional Programs Manager for Tasmania, Ms Wendy Armstrong, said Family Learning Clubs help to develop a culture of learning and literacy by connecting parents with their children's education, thereby fostering this culture at home.

"Family Learning Club sessions will be held once a week in eight-week blocks at primary schools in Chigwell, Rocherlea, Table Cape, Bridgewater and Gagebrook," Ms Armstrong said. The project will involve from 120 to 240 students and a similar number of parents and will run between mid-2010 and end-2012. It will rely on the generosity of volunteer tutors in giving their time to support local parents and their children.

"Research has identified the importance of approaching literacy as a family activity. The plan is to develop a program of fun learning activities based on identified educational needs of the target group of children. We envisage these Family Learning Cubs becoming community-led initiatives over time so they can continue to help children and their families well beyond the life of this project," Ms Armstrong said.

TCF Chairwoman Lynn Mason said the program was an excellent example of how TCF funding can provide benefits to disadvantaged members of our community.

"The TCF is pleased to be able to support this exciting initiative and provide funding to help improve literacy and long-term outcomes for children around the state. This project will increase education, life and employment skills and respond to community needs," Ms Mason said.

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Coordinator Ms Sarah Dornauf says the project is about developing literacy through the real life experience of setting up a business.

"meenah mienne is a mentoring program that brings young people and artists in the Aboriginal community together to 'share time, tell stories and make really deadly art'. The Tasmanian Community Fund generously granted $345,351 to pay for the

Literacy Through Art and Business project which will provide a meaningful, real-life context for developing literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills.

"Participants will be required to research traditional and contemporary Tasmanian Aboriginal art, write a project schedule, develop a business plan, and write and design catalogues to publicise their business. Eventually, they will have the opportunity to market and sell their artworks at local craft and tourist markets, on the Internet and through our Tamar Street gallery in Launceston," Ms Dornauf said.

TCF Chairwoman Lynn Mason said the program was a wonderful example of how TCF funding could provide long-term benefits to disadvantaged members of the community.

"The TCF is pleased to be able to support this exciting initiative and provide funding to help improve literacy and long term outcomes for young Aboriginal people in Tasmania. This project will provide long term value and benefit to the whole Tasmanian community and provide social and economic advantage to all those young people who choose to participate ion the project," Ms Mason said.

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COMMUNITY FORUMS

The Fund will hold a community forum at the Ulverstone Surf Life Saving Club on Wednesday 17 March from 5.30 - 7 pm. The forum will provide the community with an opportunity to hear about the type of projects the Fund supports, and how to put together a good application. To attend, please contact Melissa Gunn on

6233 2920 or email admin@tascomfund.org.

Staff and Board members recently visited Queenstown to hold a community forum, view some TCF funded projects and hold discussions with the West Coast Council.

AGFEST 2010

The Fund will be an exhibitor at Agfest this year from 6-8 May at Carrick. Agfest is billed as 'Tasmania's Premier Event' and attracts more than 60 000 visitors. Come along and have a chat to our friendly staff and Board members.

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