Zonta Club of Albury-Wodonga president Joanne Metzger was successful in securing a $2150 grant to print more than 5000 discrete fold-out brochures and run a prevention campaign in November.

“I’m so excited this project can go ahead,” she said.

“It’s urgently needed and health professionals haven’t had the time or the funding to try and co-ordinate it.”

Albury Community Health sexual assault services co-ordinator Kelley Latta, who has been working closely on the project, said the grant, supported by funding from YES Youth and Family Services.

“Initially the print run would have been able to cover the hospital and maybe Betty’s Place,” she said.

“Now it looks like we can use it efficiently throughout Albury-Wodonga Health, including during post-maternity checks, as staff do a domestic violence screening as part of their assessment.

“Areas like Tallangatta have shown interest – initially speaking about the project, we were concerned about getting the resource out to areas where isolation increases risk of violence, so it’s really reassuring we can provide it more widely than initially thought.”

Other beneficiaries of the Big Give charity handout include young mums, an old plane and a life skills house.

The organisation’s chairman Michael Salter said the boost in funds reflected greater support from groups that work with the trust.

“The number is fantastic and I just think it’s been a long process but we’re gaining traction and a bit of a profile as well and that’s bringing things together,” Mr Salter said.

“We’re getting better at joining the dots about what the community needs.”

Grants unveiled at The Big Give on Wednesday evening ranged from $110,000 to $500.

The largest amount went to the mothers and babies’ unit at Wodonga hospital from the City2City run walk held in February.

The Albury Apex Club’s project to help former water polo player Nick Dempsey, who suffered a severe spinal injury, received $500.

Other community grants included $2500 for the restoration of the Uiver replica plane, $2500 to Junction Support to furnish a young mums’ unit and $1000 for the Albury Wodonga Pipes and Drums band to buy new uniforms and rebrand.

White Ribbon grants include $10,000 to Upper Murray Family Care for a domestic violence help program and $8000 to a women’s centre for a domestic violence no interest loans scheme.

The Albury Wodonga Volunteer Resource Bureau has received $55,000 for a cultural exchange and $3000 was pledged to build a life skills house at Belvoir Special School.

Meanwhile, the owners of Ace Radio, which operates 2AY, have donated $15,000 to Upper Murray Family Care and $5000 to the Carevan.

Proprietors Rowly and Judy Paterson deemed the charities worthy of help, with the money presented on their behalf by 2AY breakfast hosts Sandra Moon and Kev Poulton earlier this week.

Upper Murray Family Care will use the money for Trust In Kids, a project that helps youths up to 21.

“This significant gift will have a direct benefit for up to 30 local children, who can now participate in social, educational or recreational activities they would have otherwise been denied,” Upper Murray chief executive Luke Rumbold said.

Carevan’s donation will help bankroll a new van to be used to distribute meals to the needy.