Community
3 August, 2022
Community Dollars initiative benefits local organisations
THE first round of Bills Marine’s ‘Community Dollars’ nominations has wrapped up, and local charities are jumping on board the initiative after three deserving organisations each received a portion of the funds.
John Wyatte from Cairns Coast Guard was honoured to accept a $350 cheque on behalf of the organisation, with VMR Port Douglas and The Tablelands Fish Stocking Society also receiving a generous donation from Bills Marine as part of the initiative.
“On behalf of QF9 Cairns, I’d like to thank Bills Marine for this generous donation. In our line of work, every dollar helps,” Mr Wyatte said.
Director at Bills Marine, Scott Heinemann, thanked the community for getting involved in the initiative and highlighted the importance of supporting local charities to sustain the marine industry.
“I just want to thank the three organisations involved this quarter. They can be very proud of the work they do in the community for the marine industry, and we’re excited to keep this rolling,” Mr Heinemann said.
The Community Dollars initiative was introduced after Scott and the team decided it was time to give back to the community supporting Bills Marine for over 45 years.
“I’m excited about the program and that we are in the position to give back to the community and the people that have supported Bills Marine for so long.
There are a lot of non-for-profit organisations out there that rely on businesses or donations, and we are glad that we are in a position to assist,” said Paul Bellamy, Parts and Accessories Manager at Bills Marine.
Each quarter the donation pool, which Bills Marine fully funds, is divided between the chosen charities based on community nominations.
“When customers are in the shop spending their money, they have a chance to nominate where they want their Community Dollars to go,” Scott said.
State Emergency Service (SES) Far Northern Region (FNR) has already stepped forward for the next round of nominations with the hope of donating toward boat servicing costs.
Staffed by approximately 1,143 personnel, including regional QFES personnel and volunteers, SES FNR is a not-for-profit organisation providing community assistance during floods, storms, and other emergencies.
The Cairns Fish Stocking Society and the Cairns Surf Life Saving Club have also been selected for the next round of nominations due to be announced in October.
