Five Geraldton organisations will share in over $120,000 of Lotterywest funding to go towards some of Geraldton’s most iconic calendar events including the revival of the Blessing of the Fleet festival. 

The WA Government, through Lotterywest, supports community projects and events, helping to build a better WA together. Lotterywest celebrated record-breaking returns to the Western Australian community in 2022-23, with $1.05 billion provided in grants and lottery prizes. 

Member for Geraldton, Lara Dalton MLA will be making five presentations to Geraldton community groups and the City of Greater Geraldton totalling $128,000. 

• City of Greater Geraldton to receive $81,000 towards a series of events which will connect the community through arts and cultural activities in Geraldton. 

• Diocese of Geraldton WA to receive $4,000 towards the Geraldton International Food Festival, to celebrate diversity and cohesion 
• Geraldton Professional Fisherman’s Association to receive $8,000 towards the Blessing of the Fleet festival, a celebration of cultural heritage in Geraldton 
• Midwest Multicultural Association to receive $20,000 towards the Festival of Lights and Harmony Day events  
• Geraldton Greenough Sunshine Festival to receive $15,000 towards the 2023 Geraldton Greenough Sunshine Festival 

Funding will assist the organisations to present safe and inclusive events by assisting with production costs, family friendly programming and entertainment, and marketing costs. 

Coordinated by the Geraldton Regional Library, the Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival will be the first beneficiary of funding on Geraldton's social calendar with the launch of the annual festival on September 28th. Other events such as the International Food Festival, Blessing of the Fleet and Geraldton Greenough Sunshine Festival will take place in October. The Midwest Multicultural Association’s Festival of Lights will be held in early November with the Harmony Day event scheduled for March 2024.   

In 2022-23, $704 million was won in prizes by WA lottery players. This included 80 Western Australian division one winning tickets and 60 ‘scratch n win’ Top Prize winners. 

Comments attributed to Lara Dalton MLA: 

“This is exactly what these funds should be used for – bringing our community together to celebrate our Geraldton identity – the international influence in our food dishes, our maritime heritage, our bountiful landscape and long history as a centre for arts and literature.” 

“Lotterywest is the only State Government owned and operated lottery in Australia where all the profits are returned to the community. It also means that when you buy your tickets from local Lotterywest retailers, you’re also helping WA small business.” 

Comments attributed to Yvonne Lovedee, Secretary of the Midwest Multicultural Association: 

“Lotterywest has been very generous in its support of the multicultural community in the region by providing a grant of $20,000 to assist with engaging local contractors to provide infrastructure and to cover some entertainment costs for the annual Festival of Lights on 4 November 2023 and Harmony Festival on 16 March 2024. 

The annual Geraldton Cultural Festivals provide an opportunity to bring the community together to celebrate our rich cultural diversity in music, song, dance, crafts and of course, food from the many local stall holders.”