More than $1 million has been offered across 41 mostly regional Council areas in NSW as part of a new Southern Phone community Grant Scheme. The program will see the telecommunications provider support specific community projects in the Palerang Shire area to the tune of $25,000 this year.

Southern Phone Chairman, Bill Hilzinger presented the community grant cheque to Councillor Pete Harrison, Mayor of Palerang Council, yesterday in Bungendore. 

The community groups and key projects to benefit include; Gundillion Hall, upgrade to BBQ facilities; building restoration; Braidwood Community Radio, disability access upgrade; Braidwood National Theatre – building restoration, Royalla Common, construction of concrete slab; Captains Flat Community Hall, provision of framing and hanging materials; Bungendore School of the Arts.

Based in Moruya with 135 staff, Southern Phone Company Ltd was formed in 2002 after the receipt of funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Networking the Nation (NTN) program. A public company, Southern Phone is owned by 41 Local Councils, each of which has an equal shareholding. In the past 12 years Southern Phone has grown to be the second largest home phone provider in regional Australia and provides fixed line, mobile and Internet services to around 100,000 customers around the nation. Palerang Council has two shares in the company following the amalgamation of Tallaganda and Yarrowlumla Shire.