State grants from casinos to support community groups on the Darling Downs

Ten community groups would now be able to enhance their valuable services to the Darling Downs region after receiving a total of more than $250,000 in grants, the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Mr Terry Mackenroth, announced today.

Mr Mackenroth was speaking at a function in Brisbane to acknowledge the vital contributions the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund made to communities throughout southern Queensland.

He said the Fund was generated from a levy placed on the annual revenue of Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast and the Treasury Casino in Brisbane and distributed to non-profit organisations.

"The revenue is distributed quarterly to provide essential funding to our hard-working community and volunteer groups that do wonderful work in their local areas," Mr Mackenroth said.

"In the November and February funding rounds the Fund has divided up a total of over $2.9 Million in grants to more than 120 groups.

"Grants have been provided to organisations helping young people, older people and people with disabilities as well as to regional communities, health services, environmental and sporting organisations."

The Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund was established in 1987 and has since distributed more than $59 Million in grants.

Fund Chairman Sarina Russo said grants are awarded to diverse community groups all around southern Queensland.

"From Maryborough to the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Boulia, grants from the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund are making a real difference in local communities," Ms Russo said.

Ms Russo said the Fund's mission was to respond to client needs by allocating available resources in an equitable manner to maximise community benefits.

"This year grants have been provided for many purposes, including to purchase computers, upgrade community halls, construct counselling rooms and to provide essential transport and building amenities," she said.

Grant recipients on the Darling Downs are:

* Sunrise Way Therapeutic Community Association Inc, Toowoomba - $120,000 * Yangan Tennis Club Inc - $30,000 * Community Development Services Inc, Stanthorpe - $25,731 * Wyreema Community Events - $25,000 * Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland Limited, Toowoomba - $21,146 * Local Ambulance Committee, Goondiwindi - $17,262 * A.F.L South Toowoomba Bull-Ants Junior Club - $8,969 * Rural Fire Brigade - Gore - $4,621 * Toowoomba Community Legal Service Inc - $4,036 * Darling Downs Natural Growers Group Inc, Toowoomba - $1,944

Mr Mackenroth urged Queensland non-profit organisations who were interested in finding out more information on the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund to phone (07) 3872 0815 or visit the fund's website: www.jccbf.org.au

Further enquiries: (07) 3224 6900