22 September - Redlands Sporting Club (Palms Auditorium), Anson Road, Wellington Point - 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

24 September - Fradgley Hall, Palm Avenue, Burleigh Heads - 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

25 September - 33 Charlotte Street (Upper Plaza), Brisbane City - 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

28 September – Events Centre Maroochy, Memorial Avenue, Maroochydore - 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

30 September - Mantra, Buccaneer Drive, Urangan, Hervey Bay - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

5 October - Albert Park Motor Inn, Cnr Sir Hudson Fysh Drive & Stork Road, Longreach - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

5 October - 33 Charlotte Street (Upper Plaza), Brisbane City - 2 pm - 3 pm

6 October - Caboolture Memorial Hall, King Street, Caboolture – 3 pm - 4 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30pm

8 October - Charleville RSL (Hall), 37-39 Watson Street, Charleville - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

12 October - Magpies Sporting Club (Sunset Room), Glenella Road, Glenella, Mackay - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

13 October - Carina Leagues Club, 1390 Creek Road, Carina - 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm

15 October – Quality Hotel Burnett Riverside, 7 Quay Street, Bundaberg - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

19 October – The Buffs Club, Cnr Grace & Simpson Streets, Mount Isa - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

22 October - Rockhampton Leagues Club, Cnr Cambridge & George Streets, Rockhampton - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

28 October - Holiday Inn (Pandora Room), 334 Flinders Mall, Townsville - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

4 November - Kedron Wavell Services Club, 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside – 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

5 November - Southport Sharks, Cnr Musgrave & Olsen Avenues, Southport – 2 pm – 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

9 November - Cairns RSL, 115 Esplanade, Cairns - 2 pm - 3 pm & 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm

9 November - Crestmead Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association, Gimlet Street, Crestmead - 6 pm – 7 pm

11 November - 33 Charlotte Street (Upper Plaza), Brisbane City - 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

12 November  - Cathedral Centre Function Venue, 123 Neil Street, Toowoomba - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

19 November - Brothers Leagues Club, Wildey Street, Raceview – 3 pm – 4 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

23 November - Gympie Civic Centre, Mellor Street, Gympie - 2 pm - 3 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

Round 26 of the Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Fund is currently being processed.

The Queensland Government established the Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Fund (RHCCBF) in 1996 to provide funding to community groups in Far North Queensland.

The RHCCBF receives money from taxes on casinos. It distributes these funds to community projects on a quarterly basis. The RHCCBF is just one way the Government returns taxes from gambling activities. In redistributing gambling taxes through its grants program, the RHCCBF plays an important role in ensuring, on balance, the whole State benefits from gambling in Queensland.

One off grants of up to $15,000 are allocated to approved not-for-profit organisations to help provide community services or activities that benefit the community. These grants are not intended to replace existing sources of support for these organisations.

Grants of more than $15,000 (up to a maximum of $25,000) are considered for more complex projects which have significant community benefit.

Applications must be from Queensland-based organisations, located within the geographical jurisdiction North from Burke, Carpenteria, Croydon, Etheridge, Tablelands and Cassowary Coast, including Torres Strait and Thursday Island. The majority of Queensland not-for-profit community organisations are eligible to apply for a grant.

The RHCCBF has two annual funding rounds. 

Round opens  1 November 2009                   closes 24 December 2009 (11.59 pm EST)

Round opens  25 December 2009                 closes 15 July 2010 (11.59 pm EST)

Round opens  16 July 2010                           closes 15 December 2010(11.59 pm EST)

Allocations are made to successful organisations approximately six months after the funding round closing date.

The secretariat provides administrative support to the Trustees, with support from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. This support includes the assessment of applications, financial administration, promotion of the Fund, reporting and other administrative activities as required.

An independent community-based Board of Trustees considers all applications for funding and makes recommendations to the Minister on allocations from the RHCCBF. The Trustees consider applications on a bi-annual basis throughout the year.

The Trustees publish an Annual Allocations Report, which profiles the work of the fund throughout the year. It contains statistical information about grants distribution and gives examples of funded projects. This report is accessible from the publications and resources section.

Peter Martinuzzi - Chairperson

Mr Peter Martinuzzi is the Company Director of Queensland Marine and General Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd and past board member of the Cairns Port Authority.  Mr Martinuzzi has been involved in numerous sporting clubs including the Cairns Jockey Club, Cairns Yacht Club and Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club.

David Ford

David Ford has been Deputy Under Treasurer of Queensland Treasury since August 2005, following a period as Deputy Director-General in the Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development. Prior to this, he was Executive Director of the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation within Queensland Treasury for more than a decade. Mr Ford is also a member of the South Bank Corporation, the International Association of Gaming Regulators, Chairperson of the Golden Casket Foundation Committee and trustee of the Breakwater Island, Jupiters and Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Fund.

Patricia Bailey

Ms Patricia Bailey has considerable experience in sporting organisations.  She is the Operations Manager and Secretary of Cairns District Rugby League Inc and a loyal supporter of the North Queensland Cowboys.  Outside of the sporting industry, Ms Bailey is a member of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation Board and Cairns City Council Reference Group.

Keith De Lacy AM

Mr Keith De Lacy brings extensive commercial and corporate governance experience to the Board. He was Queensland Treasurer from 1989 to 1996. He is also one of the most prominent company directors in Queensland; he is currently Chairman of Macarthur Coal, Trinity Group, Cubbie Group and Queensland Sugar. Mr De Lacy is also a Director of the Reef Casino and vice president of the Queensland Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Alison Galligan

Ms Alison Galligan is the Executive Manager of Finance at the Reef Hotel Casino and Company Secretary of Reef Corporate Services Ltd, the responsible entity for Reef Casino Trust.  In addition, Ms Galligan is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a member of Chartered Secretaries Australia.

Allison Geisel

Ms Allison Geisel has been operating her accountancy business AMG Business Solutions on the Atherton Tablelands and Cairns Hinterland since 1993.  She has over 30 years experience in teaching and training in secondary schools and TAFE and still enjoys giving presentations and seminars when requested.  Ms Geisel has been past Director of Jobs Queensland and has served 10 years as Secretary of the Quality Industry and Training Development Board.  At present, she is a Council Member on the Board of James Cook University and Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee. 

Vivian Robertson

Ms Vivian Robertson’s commitment to the community has seen her work as the coordinator of a post-release employment program and in organisations such as Job Network and Skilling Solutions QLD. She is actively involved with the Queensland Cancer Fund and has set up a Dragon Boats Club in Cairns.  Ms Robertson was a founding member of Fretwell Park sporting complex and a previous member for the sport and recreation committee.