Help Brighten Kaniva Project 2022 Kaniva & District Progress Association are continuing to appeal to community and business to help fund solar fairy lights for the four main trees at the two crossings in the service lanes of the street. The idea being that these lights will help brighten the main street promoting a vibrant town by both day and night. In addition it is hoped that this will further support hospitality businesses and accommodation operators that rely on night time patronage. So far two lots of fairy lights have been installed and paid for by KDPA. These lights have been well received by residents, businesses and visitors. Donations received so far towards the next two sets of lights total $1,531.88, so the group is half way there, but still need to raise a further $1,500 to reach their goal. KDPA wish to thank the following people for their generous donations, West Wimmera Shire Council, Kaniva CWA, Richard Hicks, Terry Maddern, Victor Perton, Jill Hendy, Diane Mitchel, Letty and Jen Goodwin, Marlene Carter, Bruce, Wendy, Tim, Jeff and Kelly Meyer. Thanks also to Warrren Newton for his donation of Red-tail Black Cockatoo prints towards this. Donation tins from Raine’s Café, Kaniva Community Roadhouse and Kaniva Puppet Shop totalled $30.20. Thanks also to DJ McKeown and his team for installing the two sets of lights so far. Any community organisations, businesses or members who may like to consider donating money towards this project, can donate to the following NAB account details: Kaniva & District Progress & Action Association BSB 083088 Acc 588327484 or via our gofundme page.
Eat, Play, Stay Project 2022 Kaniva and District Progress Association was fortunate to receive a West Wimmera Shire Council community strengthening grant for the Eat, Play, Stay project of $5,000 supported by a $2,500 financial contribution of KDPA funds. The project aims to support the tourism business community and to highlight the Wetlands and Fauna Park as a valued community asset, along with public art works and murals. It aims to create a data bank of short videos and photographic content which promotes a welcoming community, encouraging people to want to visit the area. The content will be created over the next few months by Kristy Tink – K.Tink Photography & Design and Bianca Dickinson – B Social with B, for the ongoing digital promotion of the Eat, Stay, Play campaign for use in the Kaniva website, brochure, touchscreen and social media promotion, that can also be utilised by media and tourism destination marketing organisations e.g. WWT & WMT, and incorporate tourism publication adverts. The marketing campaign includes a 12 month promotion targeting a large area comprising Limestone Coast and the Grampians and Wimmera region. This will build on signage installed over the last six months at visitor hot-spots, supporting the updated town brochure and new website theme. KDPA are appealing for volunteers and businesses who would like to participate in the content creation The campaign features various target market sectors such as families, grey nomads and couples. If you’d like your to be involved in any way or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Helen Hobbs on 0429 888 250.
About KDPA Kaniva & District Progress Association were named as West Wimmera Shire Council, Australia Day 2020, Community Group of the Year. We meet once a month at LINK Neighbourhood house on the fourth Wednesday at 7pm. We presently have over 40 members which is made up of around 20 businesses and 20 community members. We undertake a variety of community partnership projects and work to promote all community events, services, businesses and volunteer opportunities. Your involvement can help shape Kaniva’s liveability. Just one meeting a month with subcommittees to help move ideas forward!
We have several projects that we always need assistance with:
Writing grant applications.
Digital content creation.
Creating games and tours for the Actionbound App.
Decorating the town for Christmas and for special events.
Help with updating visitor information, eg pamphlets and signage.
If you would like to help with any of the above, we'd love you to be part of our association. We are 100% volunteer run and rely on membership subs which are just $30 per year. To supplement our funds, we receive a $4K annual allocation from West Wimmera Shire Council to assist with town promotional costs. We also appreciate any support people can offer us financially to assist with projects in line with our goals. Your membership also helps to cover costs including this website, maintaining the Sheep Art Trail, ongoing printing costs of brochures and financial contributions necessary to accessing grants.
History Kaniva and District Progress Association was first started in 1911. It was responsible for many initiatives including getting the Post Office and the Memorial Swimming Pool. It has undergone many name changes but has been operating in its present format for the last 23 years. In 1999, West Wimmera Shire Council assisted 4 town groups, Kaniva and District Advancement Committee, Kaniva Traders and Promotions Association, Kaniva Tourism and Kaniva Beautification Committee to merge, forming an umbrella group for Kaniva under the present name of Kaniva and District Progress Association.
Past Projects:
2015 saw KDPA instigating the Wetlands and Fauna Park re-development as a community partnership project.
In 2017, we registered interest in Silo Artand were successful in our Pick My Project application for $198K for Kaniva and Serviceton.
In 2019, we took on developing a Sheep Art Trail linking the Silo Art with theWetlands and Fauna Park. The Sheep Art has been an ongoing project throughout 2020/21 which has seen significant work restoring the original flock of sheep.
In 2021, we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Stronger Communities Programme for the Kaniva Konnection project. This entailed upgrading the touchscreen at the Information Centre, rebuilding the Kaniva website to a touchscreen compatible format, Actionbound app for digital games and tours and weatherproofing the Qr Codes. We implemented Eat, Stay, Play signage at three visitor hot-spots, along with upgrading Sheep Art Trail signage, along with brochures and posters. We also applied for a grant for digital equipment to assist with film making and content creation, however both applications have been unsuccessful to date.
Lobbying to WWSC for the Kaniva Caravan Park upgrade. To be undertaken in 2022 cost $593K.
Digital marketing of this website since 2005 and the Kaniva facebook page in 2010
Coordinated and developed many PR flyers and signage projects over the years.
Implementing several community consultations, 'Meet the Candidate' forums, Politician visits, ABC broadcasts, general media stories and the Kaniva Optimism project.
Town decorating projects for Christmas and Easter.
Supplying brochures to visitor hot spots.
KDPA statement of purpose:
To provide a platform for community consultation and promotion of Kaniva & District.
To further the success of all business and tourism in Kaniva and District.
Advocating to West Wimmera Shire Council in the development of improved amenities and liveability.
To facilitate community development and encourage a feeling of civic pride.
For more information contact Chair Charlie Ferrier, Treasurer Daniel Taylor or Secretary Helen Hobbs, Ph 0429 888 250. Or Email us.