Four groups receive Lotterywest grants to boost Bunbury’s summer events

Four South West community organisations have received a total of $118,000 in Lotterywest grants to put on their respective events in Bunbury over the summer. The biggest grant – worth $55,000 – will go towards the City of Bunbury for their Christmas in the City and Skyfest events. Bunbury Fringe will receive $30,000 as the popular performance festival moves to a new location of Bicentennial Square, which will also feature a giant eye for patrons to walk through. South West Multicultural Festival will see $25,000 for its iconic community event which features a flag parade while $8000 will go towards the Chinese Lantern Festival to celebrate the incoming Year of the Snake. Chinese Lantern Festival director Amanda Yip said the funds would help them put on a great event. “The funding is integral to our whole event and it’s really important,” she said. “We really appreciate that Lotterywest understand and prioritise community and connection and the events that facilitate that, which is what our event does through reaching into the community to help us make some of the decorations for the displays.” Bunbury MLA Don Punch – who handed out grant certificates to the recipients on Thursday – said the funds would help keep the region’s summer vibrant. “Lotterywest has provided a total of $118,000 to four organisations to present the events that will form the backbone of Bunbury’s summer calendar,” he said. “These events deliver such a wide range of benefits and really make a difference for our community. “They bring people together, help us celebrate our similarities and our differences, they attract visitors to our city and make a significant economic contribution to Bunbury, especially to the creative and hospitality sectors.”