The application was for funding to place lighting around the Mooroopna Mosque to welcome the holy month of Ramadan.
It was proposed to light the minaret, walls, ablution area, trees, fences and surroundings for the Muslim community when they come together to worship throughout the month, as well as colourful banners ‘welcoming Ramadan’ and celebrating Eid/Bayram outside the mosque and at several places along McLennan St in Mooroopna.
The panel commended the application, acknowledging that “festive within our community doesn’t just mean Christmas”.
The application did not meet the funding criteria because part of the decorations were to be placed on privately owned land and the dates did not fit within the current funding guidelines for ‘festive period’.
Greater Shepparton City Council offers the Small Town Festive Grants Program to support community organisations to purchase and install festive decorations within their small towns. The total amount of funding allocated for the 2021/22 financial year to this program was $11,000 (GST free). The 2022 program received a total of six applications, with one application withdrawn. The remaining five applications were assessed by the grant assessment panel and have been awarded funding under delegated authority.
At the July council meeting Cr Sam Spinks suggested the festive grants needed to be more inclusive.
“Even though it didn’t fit within this grant scope, I think it is important that we are still talking about how we can celebrate all the festivities,” she said.
“It is about how all the people in our community can celebrate the festivities that are important to them; Christmas is never going away, but I wonder if we can expand the scope.”
Grants were awarded to Mooroopna Men’s Shed ($2004) for an illuminated Christmas Box, Katandra West Recreation Reserve Committee ($2000) for wreaths and baubles, Tatura Community Plan Group ($2000) to upgrade the lights around the rotunda at Mactier Park and install Christmas trees, and the Lions Club of Toolamba ($800) for Christmas decorations at Collaura Gardens in Wren St.
Speaking after the meeting Mayor Shane Sali said there should be a discussion about broadening the scheme.
Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District manager Chris Hazelman agreed the grant guidelines should be reviewed.
“It needs to be a broader approach than just a very narrow version of what festive means; the grants program needs to reflect that different communities have important events throughout the year,” Mr Hazelman said.
“It goes further than that; we always get a Christmas message from the Mayor but we don’t for Ramadan, Diwali or other festivities that should also be acknowledged in our multicultural community.”
