Community & CUA throw their support behind Big Pawz Dog Rescue

Australia’s largest credit union, CUA, awarded a total of $10,000 in community grants to local groups on Saturday through its North Lakes Community Fund, to celebrate the opening of the new CUA Community Hub at Westfield North Lakes.

Big Pawz Dog Rescue was voted the community’s favourite, receiving over 640 votes to be awarded the largest grant of $1,296. Big Pawz Dog Rescue takes large breed dogs from death row and abusive situations, rehabilitating them and providing them medical care so they can be re-homed. The grant money will help fund major procedures for some of the Big Pawz residents.

Holly Hodgson from Big Pawz Dog Rescue said the grant came at an important time.

“As a Big Pawz family we plan to use every cent of that money to help pay for two major surgeries we have upcoming to Big Pawz dogs,” Mrs Hodgson said.

“The procedures will be critical for the ongoing health and wellbeing of both dogs and we thank CUA for their support through the North Lakes Community Fund.”

Big Pawz Dog Rescue was one of 10 deserving groups in the North Lakes area to be presented with a share of $10,000 from the North Lakes Community Fund. Mummy’s Wish, Peninsular Developmental Riding Centre Association Inc. (Pender), Moreton Bay Regional Prostate Cancer Support Group and Headspace Redcliffe were also voted into the top five, with each being awarded more than $1,000.

CUA shortlisted 10 local groups from more than 90 nominations received from the community. CUA then ran a community vote over four weeks, to decide how the pool of funds would be divided between the groups. A total of 5,000 teal-coloured coins, each worth $1, were available to voters. Individuals were each allowed one vote they could allocate to their chosen group. The more coins a community group was allocated, the larger the share of the funds they received.

At the presentation event in North Lakes last week, CUA made a surprise announcement that it would double the contribution of the community votes, dollar for dollar, bringing the total awarded to almost $10,000 across the 10 local community groups.

CUA North Lakes Community and Event Specialist Stacey Handcock said it was great to see the Moreton Bay community so engaged in voting for their favourite cause while visiting the new CUA North Lakes Community Hub.

“It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm from the local groups and community members. We are absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to support the local community here in North Lakes and to be able to surprise them that they would be sharing in not just $5,000, but a total funding pool of $10,000,” Ms Handcock said.

The groups sharing in the community fund are:

• Mummy’s Wish
• Peninsular Developmental Riding Centre   Association Inc. (Pender)
• Moreton Bay Regional Prostate Cancer   Support Group
• Headspace Redcliffe
• The Lakes Cricket Club
• Lions Club North Lakes
• Jack Reed Foundation
• Kallangur State School
• Mango Hill State School

Photo opportunity:

Media are invited to come out for photos with volunteers and some of the rescue dogs. To organise a time, please contact Big Pawz Dog Rescue on bigpawzdogrescue@gmail.com