Bowen Rail Company (BRC), a freight rail business for the mining industry, has given a grant to Queens Beach State School to liven up its kitchen garden.
The school was one of four recipients from BRC’s latest round of community funding.
“Thanks to the grant we’ve been able to expand the garden and have a bigger variety of fruit and vegetables for the kids to cook with,’’ teacher Bec Trask said.
“That’s been a huge benefit to the students and the program, and it wouldn’t have been able to happen without Bowen Rail Company’s support.”
BRC general manager Brendan Lane said the Community Partnership Program was one of the ways the organisation gave back to the community.
“We’ve gone from having five or six staff in town in 2020 to well over 150 today as we safely run our rail operation from right here in Bowen,” Lane said.
“As we have grown, so too has our connection to our community. We now have kids who go to school here, we have elderly parents who live here, and all of that drives the desire our people have to give back to Bowen.
“That’s why we’re so excited to see our Community Partnership Program used to support the delivery of activities and services that make a tangible contribution to this place we’re so lucky to live and work in.”
BRC’s Community Partnership Program was launched in 2022 and is awarded in November and May.
Other recipients from the May 2023 round included the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre, the Bowen Cricket Club and Bowen Flexi Care.