December 2024

Welcome to the December 2024 edition of the Cairns Regional Council Go Clubs newsletter.

In this edition, you can find:

• Tips on AGM and keeping your club safe
• Grants and Sponsorships
• Events
• News and important dates

Need support? Contact the Club Development Officer
For professional advice and support in relation to planning, grants, sponsorship, fundraising, strategic planning and partnerships, please contact the Club Development Officer via email goclubs@cairns.qld.gov.au or call (07) 4044 3044, or join our Facebook Group

With the end of the year rolling in, so too does many AGM’s.  here are some helpful tips to ensure your club is doing everything correctly from the start to what to do after the fact.

1.       Plan your AGM – Download your AGM Preparation Document
2.       Prepare financials
3.       Call for nominations
4.       Finalise the venue and food if required
5.       A Notice of AGM needs to be sent to your members at least 14 days in advance or in line with your constitution.  Your management committee will need to decide which method to do this.  (email, social media etc.)
6.       Prepare Proxy Forms - ensure these are made available to members by a due date (in line with your constitution)
7.       Receive nominations
8.       Make a list of the management committee candidates’ names along with the member who nominated each candidate, open for inspection by members (IE noticeboard)
9.       Plan your AGM’s documents.  A helpful AGM agenda template can be found within the Go Clubs resources page as well as a Meeting factsheet, AGM agenda template ,  AGM minutes template  and nomination form. These are all free resources you can utilise.
10.   Prepare ballot forms for any elections or motions to be determined by secret ballot at the AGM
11.   Seven days prior please remind your members of the AGM with the date and time
12.   One day prior, please send a final reminder
13.   Hold your AGM
14.   Finalise the AGM minutes and circulate to your members
15.   Submit your annual return to the Office of Fair Trading within one month of your AGM.  We recommend doing this as soon as possible.

With graffiti and crime being a real issue, it’s a good idea have a proactive response to reduce incidents and cost to your club.

A helpful tool to review you club can be found in the Top Ten Principles of Crime Prevention

Some ideas: 

✅ Remove alcohol and temptations
✅ Install motion sensor alarms with sirens
✅ Strengthen windows i.e. install bars / screens
✅ Quality doors with deadbolts
✅ Consideration for artwork on walls to prevent graffiti
✅ Install cameras

Grant Funding for improvements are available through Council’s Go Clubs Infrastructure Grant, or the Community Benefit Gambling Fund .  The Cairns Council Safer Communities Fund will open in 2025.   We will update details regularly through the newsletter and GoClubs Facebook group.

Join our Facebook Group - (1) Go Clubs Cairns Members | Facebook

Please ensure you complete an improvement works request if completing upgrades and your clubhouse is on council land or shared facility.

Download for the improvement request form from the approvals section

Does you club have a planned event, want to upgrade facilities or need new equipment?  Have a look at the following grants.

Cairns Regional Council Partnerships Grants
Grants up to $25,000.
Round 15 for events held between 1 July 2025 and 31 July 2026, closes 31 March 2025

Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant
Designer to help eligible sport or recreation clubs that have been affected by severe weather.
Closes 31 January 2025

Community Benefit Fund
Round 123 - $35,000 standard grant round
Opens mid-January and closes 28 February 2025

Community Benefit Fund Super Round
March onwards: Round 124 - $100,000 super round
Closes 30 June 2025

Ensure you have signed up to the GoClubs Facebook Group for new grant updates and opportunities.

With the change in State Government, we can expect some delays in announcement of grants early in the year. The coming newsletters will provide updates as they come to hand.

Are you involved in a not-for-profit organisation? Need to raise awareness? Have a fundraiser or sign on day?

Council provides the opportunity to assist community groups and organisations develop social cohesion and connection in the Cairns Region by offering complimentary stalls at the regular Tanks Markets and Carnival on Collins.

Complimentary stalls are offered to not-for-profit organisations with a limited number of stalls available at each Market.

A market stall can be used for fundraising/awareness – from membership drives and club registrations to raffles and merchandise sales.

The Next Tanks Market Dates are:

• 26 January
• 23 March
• 30 April
• 27 April

NFPs can apply throughout the Market season here: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/markets

Free family fun

Celebrate Australia Day, Sunday 26 January 2025 with a fun-filled day of free activities and entertainment for the whole family! And don’t forget – Monday is a public holiday, so you can enjoy the festivities without worrying about an early start the next day!

Activities include:

• Free swimming at Woree and Smithfield Pools
• Australia Day Award Ceremony at Munro Martin Parklands 
• Free family concert and activities at Munro Martin Parklands