The Lakes District Hospital at Frankton will be able to buy a portable ultrasound scanner after receiving a $47,643 grant from the Central Lakes Trust.
The grant was one of 27, totalling $431,859, made during the second quarter of 2008. Trust chief executive Paul Allison said it believed it was important residents had easy access to vital community services.
Wakatipu Health Trust chairwoman Maria Cole said that with the "ever-increasing usage of emergency department facilities at Lakes District Hospital and the remoteness from a large base hospital, there are numerous situations where ultrasound equipment is essential and potentially lifesaving".
"This equipment will enable diagnostic work to be done at Lakes District Hospital which would otherwise have required a patient to transfer to Invercargill for treatment," she said.
Another project to receive significant support was one by Lodge Arrow Kilwinning No 86, which was given $30,000 to help restore old hand-painted plaster friezes discovered after the removal of wall lining and carpets.
Lodge senior warden Blair Rodger said the friezes were considered "exceptional" by historians.
The Queenstown Christian Camp Trust received $25,000 for property maintenance at Lakeland Park, and the Makarora Valley Community $16,730 to bring radio reception to the remote Makarora Valley for the first time.
A grant of $75,000 went to the Wanaka-based Alpine Community Development Trust for operational costs, the Anglican Family Care Home-Based Care Programme received $30,000, while the Wanaka Primary School was given $20,000 for two new playgrounds.
The Lake Dunstan Boat Club received a $36,155 grant for a rescue/safety boat and the Alexandra BMX Club $20,000 to upgrade facilities at the Alexandra Cycle Park.
The Alexandra Blossom Festival parade is set to be bigger than ever this year after the trust gave a $15,000 grant to encourage more float entries.
Blossom festival committee procession liaison Kylie Switalla said to date nine float entries had been confirmed and she hoped more organisations would get involved in the late-September parade.
The $15,576 from the trust would be used for road safety costs and to help construct up to 12 floats by community-based organisations.
Ms Switalla said float entries would be accepted until the end of July.
Trust grants approved for the April-June period: Alexandra Blossom Festival Committee, $15,576; Alexandra BMX Club, $20,000; Alexandra Golf Club, $15,000; Alpine Community Development Trust, $75,000; Alzheimers Society Central Otago, $7586; Anglican Family Care, $30,000; Black Grace Trust, $4500; Brain Injury Association Central Otago, $10,000; Central Otago Regional Choir, $7000; CLT Rest-home Goldfish Project, $15,000; CODC Millers Flat Hall, $16,000; Cromwell Combined Churches Trust, $1300; Hawea Early Learning Centre, $15,000; Lake Dunstan Boat Club, $36,155; Lodge Arrow Kilwinning No 86, $30,000; Makarora Valley Community, $16,730; Mountain Safety Wakatipu, $7950; Queenstown Christian Camp Trust, $25,000; Rhythm and Dance Cromwell, $1000; Roxburgh Medical Services Trust, $7115; St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Wanaka, $1970; Tarras Community Church, $2734; Upper Clutha Tramping Club, $1600; Wakatipu Health Trust, $47,643; Wanaka Community Toy Library, $1000; Wanaka Embroiderer's Guild, $1000; Wanaka Primary School, $20,000.
