{{current_weather.dt | moment( atts.date )}}
{{current_weather.temp | temp}} °{{units}}
{{day.dt | moment(atts.date)}}
{{day.temp | temp}} °{{day.temp_min | temp}} °{{units}}
So far this year, Oaky Creek Coal (OCC) has awarded SmartyGrants to seven local community and sporting organisations, totalling $34,576. Here’s a quick look at what each of the grant recipients intends to do with the funding…
Grant Awarded: Community Investment Grant
Project: Livestreaming of the 2026 ATRA National Finals
The 2026 ATRA National Finals will be held in Capella, Queensland from 30th September to 4th October 2026. The annual event brings together more than 800 competitors, families and spectators for five days of competition from Junior Barrel Racing, to the pinnacle Open Team Roping.
This year is a milestone event, with 2026 marking 20 consecutive years at Bridgeman Park and highlighting the strong partnership between the venue, the local community and the Association. Over the past 19 years, the Finals have become a key annual fixture for the region, delivering significant economic benefits to Capella and beyond. Competitors travel from all across Australia, with additional entrants making the journey from New Zealand, reinforcing the Finals reputation as a premier national event.
However, many ATRA Members, family members, friends and supporters of the National’s competitors will be unable to attend the Finals in Capella due to cost of living, farm commitments, and more. The OCC grant will be used to livestream the National Finals so that these members, family and friends can still feel a part of the event and support their loved ones.
Grant Awarded: Community Investment Grant
Project: Healthy Start Reading Program
The Healthy Start Reading Program is an early childhood initiative that promotes both health and literacy amongst children from birth to five years old and their families living in the Tieri and Capella communities.
The OCC grant will be used to purchase age-appropriate books. These books will be provided to children during routine health screenings to help encourage reading from an early age, strengthen parent–child bonding, and foster language, communication, and cognitive development skills during critical early years.
During the health visits, families receive the free book along with brief guidance on the importance of reading at home and engaging ways to share books with children.
Integrating literacy into existing health services helps reduce barriers to accessing books and reduces disparities in early literacy opportunities across the community by ensuring every child — regardless of socioeconomic background — has at least one quality, age-appropriate book at home. The program also helps enhance engagement with health services, supports school readiness, and contributes to improved long-term health and educational outcomes for children and families within the community.
Grant Awarded: Community Investment Grant
Project: Tieri Community Directory Magnets
The Tieri Community Directory provides residents with easy access to important local contact information in one convenient place. The OCC grant will be used to purchase and create magnetic versions of the Directory – which includes phone numbers for a wide variety of services relevant to everyday community life – helping households quickly locate support when needed.
The Directory magnets were first developed in 2016 and have proven highly valuable over the past decade. They were updated in 2022, and require a further update in 2026. They are distributed through the Tieri Town Office ‘Welcome Packs’, helping new residents feel informed, connected and supported as they settle into the community.
The magnets also include a QR code directing people to tieri.com.au, which provides expanded local information, including a digital copy of Tieri News, local businesses and community groups, Oaky Creek Coal news and updates, upcoming opportunities, and an events calendar, as well as an online version on the Community Directory. The Directory also features in Tieri News.
Grant Awarded: Community Investment Grant
Project: Equestrian Trail Bridge and Equipment
Central Highlands Equestrian Group is introducing Working Equitation as another discipline to horse riding enthusiasts in Central Queensland. Working Equitation is recognised worldwide and will invite riders of any discipline to display the relationship between them and the horse, with a focus on versatility, agility and classical training principles.
In order to introduce Working Equitation, a trail bridge is required in the training centre, measuring exactly four metres long by one and a half metres wide, and no less than 200mm off the ground.
The OCC grant will enable the club to build the trail bridge and other obstacles to show quality standard, with durability as a priority. In doing so, the money will help facilitate Working Equitation clinics and events that will further the growth of the sport in the Central Highlands region.
In addition, the grant money will go towards repairing the club’s equipment trailer and upgrading the shelving in the shed at Bridgeman Park where club equipment and supplies are stored.
Grant Awarded: Community Investment Grant
Project: Chairs for the Capella Rodeo Club
The Capella Rodeo is a long-standing annual event that takes place every August at Bridgeman Park, Capella. As the rodeo has continued to grow in popularity as an event, the sponsor’s area has expanded, requiring additional chairs, bar stools and high bars to be purchased in order to create a comfortable and safe rodeo for our patrons.
The OCC grant funded the purchase of these assets, which will also be utilised for the Junior Rodeo Schools and other local events run by the schools and other sporting clubs in the local area.
Grant Awarded: Local Community and Family Events Grant
Project: Tieri Golf Pro-Am 2026
Since its inception, the annual Tieri Golf Club Pro-Am has always been a source of pride for Tieri. This year was no different as the event brought some of the best professional golfers in the Region to Tieri to compete in the Coal Fields Circuit.
The OCC grant assisted with prize money for the professional golfers, prizes for the amateurs, and catering requirements for all. It also supported preparation of the golf course in the lead up to the event, and official information, notices, and other entertainment requirements.
The Pro-Am event sets the stage for the year and allows Tieri Golf Club to continue operating, providing a place for juniors to develop their skills and for locals to interact, unwind and play a round of golf.
Importantly, the Pro-Am is good for the morale of the town and brings an uplift to local businesses thanks to the professional golfers who stay in Tieri before, during and after the event. The community also benefits from training lessons and tips from the Professionals, hopefully motivating more people to take up the sport.
Grant Awarded: Local Community and Family Events Grant
Project: 2026 Capella Show
The annual Capella agricultural show provides an opportunity for local primary producers, other businesses, community members and visitors to gather to showcase their products, services and talents.
The program of events provides a range of different physical activities in which community members and visitors of all ages can participate at little to no cost, strengthening community connections across both
Capella and Tieri.
It brings together families, students, volunteers and local businesses, providing opportunities to build skills, support agriculture, and maintain strong local networks. The event also supports mental wellbeing and local economic activity, helping sustain the small rural communities that support the region’s mining and agricultural workforce.
The OCC grant funded a portion of total event costs – including live evening music, portable tables, and handheld radios – complementing the Society’s ongoing financial and in-kind commitment to delivering a high-quality, community-focused show.
Local Community Investment Grants
• Up to $10,000 per community organisation, per grant
• Round 3 NOW OPEN – closes 14 December, 2026
Local Community & Family Events Grants
• Up to $10,000 per event, per grant
• Open all year – closes 14 December, 2026
Tieri considers the health and wellbeing of the community a priority. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we have created the Tieri Covid-19 Hub. Please subscribe if you would like to receive a notification when important information is updated on this site.