The Longreach Brolga Girl Guides and job readiness initiative RAPAD Skilling have both received a welcome cash injection from the inaugural Longreach Airport Community Benefit Fund.

The Community Benefit Fund is run by Longreach Airport’s parent company Queensland Airports Limited (QAL), which contributed a total of more than $35,000 to community groups and initiatives across its four ports throughout regional Queensland in 2016.

Longreach Airport Chief Operating Officer Kevin Gill said it was gratifying to be able to support local groups at a grassroots level.

“Funding can be an up-hill battle for groups like these which often don’t have the resources to compete for the corporate sponsorship dollar, so we’re very proud to have contributed,” Mr Gill said.

“The Community Benefit Fund has allowed us to give back to a broader cross-section of the local community and engage with some very positive initiatives.”

The Longreach Brolga Girl Guides will purchase six new tents and two eskies which they plan to take on camps.

Nicolle Alexander from Longreach Brolga Girl Guides said the purchase of the camping equipment wouldn’t have been possible without the grant.

“These camps foster interaction and sharing across a broad range of girls with different interests and skills whilst supporting education about the environment,” Ms Alexander said.

“The equipment added up to more than $1,000 so Longreach Airport’s support was very welcome.”

RAPAD Skilling has been able to conduct sessions with Longreach State High School students to teach vital job preparation skills including cover letter and resume writing, job searching and interviewing, and general job readiness.

Brooke Ballard from RAPAD Skilling said the initiative sought to provide students who are nearing employment with important skills that lack throughout generic school curriculum.

“Some young people need a leg-up into the workforce, and these sessions give them some very important guidance,” Ms Ballard said.

“We were able to provide nine job readiness sessions to 35 students through financial support of close to $1,300 by Longreach Airport.”

Applications for this year’s Longreach Airport Community Benefit Fund will be open from 8-29 May, 2017. For more information and to apply, visit longreachairport.com.au.

QAL is a regional airport specialist which also owns and operates Gold Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa airports.

Contact: media@qldairports.com.au.