THE Pindimar Bundabah Community Association (PBCA) has received a Federal grant to install an antenna booster to improve mobile phone service at the local hall, as part of the Department of Social Services’ volunteer grants program.
The PBCA was granted $1000 from a total of $66,665 that was shared among 41 similarly focused community organisations across the federal seat of Lyne.
Alison Penfold, the federal Member for Lyne, congratulated the successful recipients, saying the funding recognised the vital role volunteers played in supporting local communities.
“This funding will help local organisations purchase equipment, undertake training, improve accessibility and make volunteering easier and more rewarding for community members,” Ms Penfold said.
“Volunteers are the heart of our communities, they give their time, skills and energy to support others, strengthen local connections and help deliver services and activities which many people rely upon.
“I’m delighted to see local organisations successfully secure this funding, which will help them continue their invaluable work and support the dedicated volunteers who make such a difference.”
Ms Penfold visited the PBCA recently to deliver the news.
“Alison had let us know to go for it, and then came out to present it to us after we were successful,” PBCA member Clare Mason told NOTA.
“The PBCA will use the funds towards installing an antenna booster for the Hall to improve mobile service, which has always been spotty or non-existent.”
Anyone who has visited either of the two towns would be well aware of just how bad mobile reception is, with some households opting for Starlink service in lieu of any kind of NBN connection.
NOTA has confirmed that Pindimar and Bundabah are mainly serviced by the mobile phone tower at Tanilba Bay, which is more than 12km away, and rarely picks up any signal from the much smaller installation in Tea Gardens, nor from the far more congested towers atop Gan Gan lookout (8km away).
The local signal booster could just help those attending the annual Pindimar Markets Day on Saturday 24 October, enabling a few more EFTPOS trades in a scenario that has historically been ‘cash only’.
The Pindimar Markets on Koree Street will host stalls, local emergency services, other community groups, the famous chocolate wheel, a delicious bbq lunch, live music, the Tea Gardens Red Cross, local artisans and artists, a kids’ corner with a petting zoo, and the big car boot sale, to name a few.
“The money raised by the PBCA from the Markets Day goes to strengthening our community, effectively helping us build our own infrastructure,” Ms Mason said.
“We will actually be able to connect the internet for our PBCA meetings, such as when we need to check facts or pull up a news story – at least now we have something.”
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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