2025 Smarty Grants Investments

Our Smarty Grants program continue to help the broader Tieri region through funding a mix of community projects. In 2025, we invested $98,359 across a range of sectors. 

Grant recipients in 2025 included:

• Capella Tieri Middlemount Community Support Network Inc (CTM Links) for Tieri Ladies Social Hub painting event
• Capella & District Show Society for the 2025 Capella Show signage and ball
• Capella Rodeo Club for the 2025 Capella Rodeo
• Tieri Local Ambulance Committee for its night markets and Christmas carols
• Tieri State School for its celebration evening awards night
• Capella QCWA for building flooring upgrades
• Capella Community Op Shop for shop terminal and container storage
• Tieri Country Club for the Tieri Golf Pro Am event
• Tieri Family Unit and Child Health Centre for human relations education and an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event
• Australasian Team Roping Association for the 2025 ATRA National Finals
• Capella Pioneer Village for a mining history preservation project
• Capella Tieri Middlemount Community Support Network Inc (CTM Links) for Tieri Youth Space Project
• Tieri Daycare Centre for early childhood resources
• Capella Cricket Club for Bridgeman Park seating.

Here’s some further details on two of the key projects we funded in 2025.

Capella Community Op Shop: Container Storage and Racking

The Capella Community Op Shop is a not-for-profit, community-run organisation that was established in 2024 following the closure of regional Vinnie’s outlets. The shop continues to address the community needs for low socio-economic families, as well as promoting community spirit and social connection. The shop has an emphasis on child resources for education and environmental responsibility with the recycling of clothing and household items.

The store applied for and was successful in receiving a grant for extra storage to keep up with demands of volunteers, donors and customers. The funding of more storage and shelving racks has helped Capella Community Op Shop to reduce clutter and has streamlined the organisation of stock. As a result, in-store displays have improved, enhancing the welcoming atmosphere and providing a capacity for growth.

The op shop is now a valued community hub, with Kim Tompson, Capella Community Development Officer from CTM Links saying, “Community members are made welcome to come in for a cuppa and a chat. This is a powerful way to combat the loneliness and social isolation experienced by many in small communities.” 

Capella Pioneer Village: Capella and Tieri Communities’ Economic and Educational Development by Preserving our Shared Mining History

Capella Pioneer Village provides a display and education of the region’s history, showcasing agriculture, mining and railway initiatives. It attracts visitors from across Queensland and provides economic benefit to Capella and Tieri through driving tourism spend, including demand for accommodation.

For this project, Capella Pioneer Village applied for a grant to enhance the mining exhibition with a focus on improving the display of underground and longwall mining equipment. This helps to foster a greater appreciation and understanding of the region’s underground mining.

Using the grant, Capella Pioneer Village will be organising the transportation and arrangement of 12 underground roof support chocks to go with the 60 ft double-ended ranging drum (DERDS), displayed as they would be in a longwall mining setting.

This exhibition provides school groups, visitors and mining families a way to see the sheer size and complexities of the machinery that is being used every day in the industry.

2026 Smarty Grants Rounds Now Ope

Funding applications for 2026 are now open, including a budget of $100,000 to invest in the communities in which OCC operates. A full list of available grants, as well as application guidelines, can be found at the Glencore Smarty Grants website glencore.smartygrants.com.au.

For queries about deadlines, questions in the form, or assistance with your application, please contact the Environment & Community team on (07) 4984 7245 during business hours, or email Kate.French@Glencore.com.au or occenvironment@glencore.com.au. We’re here to help!