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 61 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund has been announced with 500 organisations receving a total of $9,512,276. Please access the publications and resources section for a full list of successfull organisations.

The Queensland Government established the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) in 1994 to provide funding to community groups in Queensland.

The GCBF receives money from taxes on Golden Casket lotteries, wagering, keno and gaming machines. It distributes these funds to community projects on a quarterly basis. The GCBF is just one way the Government returns taxes received from gambling activities. In redistributing gambling taxes through its grants program, the GCBF plays an important role in ensuring, on balance, the whole State benefits from gambling in Queensland.

One-off grants of up to $30,000 are allocated to approved not-for-profit organisations to help them 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 $30,000 are considered for more complex projects which have significant community benefit.

Applications must be from Queensland-based organisations. The majority of Queensland not-for-profit community organisations are eligible to apply for a grant, either in their own right (if incorporated) or through a sponsor (if not incorporated).

The GCBF has four annual funding rounds. The closing dates for applications are 28 February, 31 May, 31 August and 30 November.  Allocations are made to successful organisations approximately 12 weeks after the funding round closing date.

Each application is valid for six months. If your application is not successful in the first funding round, it is automatically considered in the next funding round.

An independent community-based committee considers all applications for funding and makes recommendations to the Minister on allocations from the GCBF. The Committee considers applications on a quarterly basis throughout the year.

The Committee publishes 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, and previous years, are accessible from the publications and resources section.

The current Gambling Community Benefit Committee (GCBC) was appointed in August 2007 for a period of three years. The members of the Committee are:

Mary Philip

Mary Philip is a social worker with a long history of public sector and community involvement and has been a member of the GCBC since 2000. Ms Philip has worked in and held positions on committees for numerous non-government organisations in the areas of disability, community housing, domestic violence, young women, young parents and refugees.  She has a commitment to communities being resourced to support their more vulnerable members. In particular, she is interested in improving community connections with migrants and refugees.

Mike Sarquis

Mr Mike Sarquis is the Executive Director of the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. He is also a member of the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee and is experienced in the areas of regulation and legislation as it relates to legalised gambling, and public administration. 

Helga Biro

Ms Helga Biro is the Executive Director of Centacare in Cairns and is also the Chairperson of the Cairns and Region Multicultural Association, a member of the Australian Association for Social Workers, has been a member of the Far North Queensland and Central Queensland Ministerial Regional Community Forums and was a co-founder of the Cairns Regional Alliance of Social Services.

Rae Kelly

Ms Rae Kelly is based in Innisfail and is currently a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Domestic and Family Violence for the Department of Communities. She has worked as the Coordinator for Innisfail Indigenous Women's and Family Corporation and as Research Officer for the National Network of Indigenous Women's Legal Services. Ms Kelly has had extensive experience working in organisations delivering services to Indigenous communities and currently is involved in the Innisfail Community Support Centre.

Monica James

Ms Monica James is the Community Development Officer for Quilpie Shire Council and is involved in the development and delivery of community services for the Quilpie Shire. Ms James is actively involved in the Central Western Queensland region and is a member of the Darling Downs/South West Queensland Ministerial Regional Community Forum (for the Department of Communities) and the South West Regional Electricity Council.

Julie Healy

Ms Julie Healy is the Clubs Queensland representative on the GCBC. Ms Healy is the Secretary/Manager for the Beachmere Bowls Club. She is also currently the Zone Chairman for Clubs Queensland for the Sunshine Coast.

Myles McGregor-Lowndes

Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes AM is a Professor in the Faculty of Business at the Queensland University of Technology and the Director of the Centre of Philanthropy and Nonprofits Studies. In June 2003, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "For services to the community by providing education and support in legal, financial and administrative matters to nonprofit organisations". Professor McGregor-Lowndes has extensive knowledge and experience of the issues faced by not-for-profit organisations in terms of capacity, sustainability, utilisation of volunteers and their valuable contribution to Queensland communities.

Richard Bowly

Richard is a Rotarian (over 40 years) and a Paul Harris Fellow. Richard has extensive involvement with his local community. Richard is a life member of the Queensland Hotels Association (QHA) and has served as a committee member. He is the current Chairman of the Toowoomba Division and as such represents this Division on the QHA Board. In his limited spare time Richard enjoys fishing and golf.