Guyra Adult Learning (New England Community College) has received two funding boosts for its local newspaper, the Guyra Gazette.
Guyra Adult Learning received $40,422 from Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) from the Tracking Tough Times Together program. The grant will increase the capacity to produce the Guyra Gazette to support the community to maintain strong connections, raise awareness of local events and activities, encourage social interaction and inform the community of local issues during a period of drought.
Guyra Adult Learning also received a $10,000 grant from Commonwealth’s Public Interest News Gathering (PING) program.
Guyra Adult Learning Association President Campbell Wolfenden welcomed the announcements, saying: “We have continued to publish throughout the COVID-19 crisis because we were aware how important the paper was in keeping the community informed.”
“These grants will assist in maintaining the operation of the Guyra Gazette newspaper by contributing to the printing and distribution cost,” Mr Wolfenden said.
The Guyra Gazette (see front page of the 1 July 2020 printed edition below) is printed in house at Guyra and is distributed to all 1685 householders in the 2365 postcode as well as available from the newsagents in nearby Armidale and Tingha.
“CCA applauds Guyra Adult Learning’s efforts to maintain and service its community through news-gathering and communications in its Northern Tablelands region. In an era with substantial loss of local Australian newspapers, the Guyra Gazette is more important than ever,” said Dr Don Perlgut, CEO of Community Colleges Australia.
