RACQ reminds communities of disaster recovery fund

  RACQ Group CEO Ian Gillespie today reminded Queensland community groups battling to get back on their feet after the latest natural disasters to hit the State that recovery funding was available from the RACQ Foundation. The Foundation was set up two years ago in the aftermath of the record storms, floods and cyclones of the summer 2010/2011. Almost 120 community groups throughout Queensland have received funding totalling more than $6 million from the RACQ Foundation since it was established. "During that time we’ve helped communities from Cairns to Coolangatta and ranging from sports clubs to kindergartens," Mr Gillespie said. "The Foundation’s core purpose is to help community organisations recover from natural disasters and to allow for charity organisations to provide ongoing assistance to flood and cyclone victims. "We encourage community organisations impacted by the latest natural disasters to apply for funding of up to $200,000 per project to repair, replace or rebuild damaged properties, buildings, equipment and assets. "The deadline for the next round of funding is 29 April 2013." Mr Gillespie said that as a 108-year-old Queensland mutual with 1.2 million members, RACQ felt it had a vital role to play in the recovery of communities from all types of natural disasters. "We initially established the Foundation to assist with what was then the biggest disaster in the State’s history," Mr Gillespie said. "But clearly in a State such as ours there is an ongoing need for this type of assistance, and we want to be able to provide help now and into the future. "RACQ has always been about helping Queenslanders, and this is a natural extension of our community outreach program." Funding from the Foundation is only available to community and charitable groups, rather than individuals. "The Foundation seeks to support those organisations and groups that make a real difference in their local communities," Mr Gillespie said.