Projects we've funded

Environmental grants

Native Garden Rose Bay Secondary College

In 2018, Rose Bay Secondary College received $2,500 in funding to create a native garden to support their recently installed native bee hive. The garden features a frog pond and more than 30 species of indigenous plants which will provide Food Technology students with an abundance of sustainable, locally-grown food in the years to come.

Students were involved in all elements of the initiative, from choosing the location of the garden through to selecting suitable plants, weeding designing, digging out the frog pond and ongoing care of the garden.

Aside from creating a suitable environment to support the school's bee hive, the garden has also been used by students learning about ecology. In future, it will also become an ideal learning space for students studying Geography, Design and Technology, Food Technology or those learning about compost initiatives.

St Clare's College - Bee Project

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St Clares gained a grant of $2,225 in 2018 to fund the cost of a stingless native beehive as well as an education program around it. Year 7 students embarked on a bee learning journey that spanned across subjects including science, maths and technology. Their brief was to research, design, produce and evaluate a fully-functioning beehive for the school grounds. A tour of the Botanical gardens gave the students an understanding of native plants and what conditions stingless bees require to thrive. Two workshops were also held to help students further understand stingless bees and their habitat.

In science class, students discovered how indigenous people use resources sustainably, the role of bees in the ecosystem and threats to the bee population. They created their own websites, social media posts and newsletter articles to promote awareness of the native stingless bees. In technology class, students focused on nutrition and recipes that use honey, producing their own honey recipe book which was tried and tested. They also designed their own model beehives and brought them to life with the school’s 3D printer. During maths class students used Raspberry Pi devices to collect temperature data from around the college in order to find the best location for their beehive.

The students weren’t the only ones learning new skills and ways of working together. The teachers took part in a teaching STEM workshop and collaborated across departments in a way they had not done before. They said students were engaged in voluntary extended learning as they explored areas that interested them. Overall, the project was deemed a huge success in collaborative learning. The beehive continues to be a source of learning at St Clare’s, so you know where to go if you want to know anything about stingless bees!

Community and cultural grants

Pop up gallery - The Loco Project

The Loco Project hold pop-up exhibitions in shipping container galleries showcasing local talent. With the $3000 grant awarded they held a 4 week pop-up art exhibition on Bondi Beach, 21 March – 17 April 2016, showcasing 8 local and 4 international artists. Each week a new range of photography, paintings, illustrations, timber art and locally made crafts were displayed and project staff and the artists themselves volunteered their time to staff the gallery.

Throughout the exhibition thousands of visitors to Bondi Beach were introduced to Waverley’s vibrant local creative sector, with an average of 60 people per day visiting the gallery weekdays, and 100 per day over weekends. Many more viewed the exhibited works from outside the intriguing, brightly lit, red box.

“A lot of people were fascinated by the whole concept of this container being a pop up gallery and enjoyed the seating and music. Thanks, it was such a fantastic week in Bondi…It was a great success!”

Shan Richards – Artist

Tactile Tours - Sculptures by the Sea

Tactile Tours aim to provide access to the annual Sculpture by the Sea (SxS) exhibition for children and adults with a range of disabilities. The Program is supported by Council’s Small Grants Program, the Art Gallery of NSW, Catalyst development funding, and the Janes N Kirby Foundation.

Participation in Tactile Tours started with 9 people in 2009 and by 2016, 405 people with a disability, and 132 carers participated, including school students, and adults with a wide range of disabilities. Council’s ongoing support has enabled the testing of new program components. In 2016, in collaboration with WCLP and Catholic Care, participants were offered the opportunity to present their favourite sculpture to an audience in a ‘My Perspective’ Tour. The Public Program of weekend Artist’s Talks was also Auslan interpreted and promoted to visitors who are deaf.

In 2016, SxS also provided a transition to Work Program for disabled young people which involved pre-exhibition work experience at the SxS office, and volunteer opportunities during the exhibition.

Shir Madness Sydney Jewish Music Festival Inc.

Sydney Jewish Festival Inc. received a grant of $3,000 inMay 2016 to support Shir Madness, an established music festival showcasing and celebrating the diversity of Jewish music and Jewish performers from Sydney, interstate, and overseas. Held at Bondi Pavilion on Sunday 18 September, the festival presented 35 performances across four stages in a 10 hour musical feast.

More than 17% of Waverley’s population identifies as Jewish, and the festival had strong local involvement. Many of the 30 volunteers who worked to put the program together over a period of 9 months were Waverley locals. About 1,000 people attended, from Waverley and further afield, transforming the Bondi Pavilion into a festival of light and music.