Felton Industries announces four 2025 Felton Grant recipients

January 19th, 2025 – Felton Industries, Australia’s leading designer, manufacturer, and supplier of Australian-made premium aluminium outdoor furniture, has announced the winners of the third annual Felton Grant. This year’s program recognises a diverse range of schools and sporting clubs that have demonstrated exceptional creativity and commitment to enhancing their outdoor spaces for long-term benefit. Four organisations have been awarded grants this year, sharing in a total grant pool of $40,000.

The Felton Grant continues to celebrate the power of outdoor spaces to connect people and strengthen communities. The program expanded its reach in 2025, supporting even more organisations nationwide with practical, sustainable furniture solutions that promote inclusivity, accessibility, and community wellbeing.

This year’s recipients were selected from hundreds of applications submitted across Australia, each highlighting unique projects designed to improve outdoor learning environments, encourage physical activity, and foster social interaction. The successful organisations have each received Felton product credits to bring their ideas to life using high-quality, Australian-made outdoor furniture.

Drew Mackinnon, Marketing Manager, Felton Industries, said, “Felton Industries is incredibly proud to see how the Felton Grant has grown into a valuable initiative that empowers communities to think creatively about their outdoor environments. The program provides access to durable, locally made products and encourages schools, sporting clubs, and community organisations to reimagine what’s possible in their shared spaces. Every project represents a meaningful investment in connection, wellbeing, and pride of place.”

The 2025 Felton Grant was open to submissions from 11 August to 12 September. Applicants were invited to outline their proposed projects, describing how Felton products would help transform their outdoor spaces and deliver lasting value for their communities. Each submission was assessed on its creativity, practicality, and potential to strengthen community connections through improved outdoor infrastructure. This year’s Felton Grant recipients are Camden Rugby Union Club (NSW), Epsom Primary School (VIC), Mossman State High School (QLD), and St Norbert College (WA).

Toby Searle, President Camden Rugby Club, said, “Camden Rugby Union Club needed to expand its capacity to enhance spectator viewing by acquiring portable grandstands to cater for its local club events, state carnivals, school gala days, and NSW rugby regional events to continue to provide quality experiences for the Camden community as it has done for the past 50 years. Through this grant, the club has improved its facilities and capacity to accommodate players to give them an even better experience. We are very impressed with the Felton grandstand and the quality of engineering and premium materials used. Giving organisations like ours the opportunity to apply for this grant is a great initiative by Felton.”

Julie Ladd, Principal, Epsom Primary School, said, “Epsom Primary School is pleased to announce it has been awarded a generous grant from Felton Industries to support a new outdoor wellbeing initiative. The funding will enable the school to install durable outdoor seating throughout the grounds, collectively forming a dedicated yarning circle. This purpose-built space will promote student wellbeing and strengthen community connection by offering an inclusive and accessible area for students, staff, families, and community members to gather, learn, and connect. The project is being developed collaboratively, with contributions from staff, students, the school’s wellbeing team, and the baring djuwima leaders—Epsom Primary School’s Young First Nations leaders who play an important role in shaping culturally responsive spaces. Installation of the new seating is scheduled for early 2026. Epsom Primary School extends its sincere thanks to Felton Industries for supporting this valuable project, which will have a lasting positive impact on the school community.”

Mary-Anne Zahnow, Deputy Principal, Mossman State High School, said, “With the Felton grant, we are fortunate to be able to add a covered grandstand to our recently refurbished outdoor multipurpose sports courts so that students have somewhere shady to sit when they are not participating on the court. Being in Far North Queensland, we experience hot and sunny weather conditions for a large proportion of the year, and the grandstand will also provide a fantastic viewing area for spectators when we host gala days for the Douglas Shire cluster primary schools.”

Neil Grime, Business Manager, St Norbert College, said, “The Felton grant will help us with constructing an all-weather structure for our new hard courts in support of our specialised basketball program. The furniture from the grant will let students, parents, and the community comfortably watch while games are being played and will improve student wellbeing and enjoyment through having improved sporting facilities available to them.”

The Felton Grant program continues to demonstrate how considered outdoor design can deliver measurable impact in educational and recreational settings through projects ranging from inclusive playgrounds and accessible seating areas to multipurpose community hubs. Each project reflects Felton’s ongoing commitment to supporting spaces where people come together to learn, play, and collaborate.

Drew Mackinnon said, “Each year, the Felton Grant brings to light the incredible creativity and care that schools and clubs invest in their communities. It’s inspiring to see how these projects evolve beyond the initial vision to become lasting assets that foster connection and resilience. We’re proud to contribute to that journey and look forward to supporting even more organisations through next year’s program.”

The 2025 Felton Grant marks another step in Felton Industries’ broader mission to give back to the communities that have supported the company for more than 20 years. Felton continues to strengthen its role as a trusted partner in creating outdoor spaces that endure through sustainable manufacturing, local partnerships, and nationwide initiatives like the Felton Grant.

For more information on the Felton Grant and the products available through Felton Industries, visit www.felton.net.au.

About Felton

Felton Industries is Australia’s leading designer, manufacturer, and supplier of Australian-made premium aluminium outdoor furniture for schools, parks, councils, clubs, and organisations. Felton Industries has been supplying premium aluminium seating solutions for all organisations across Australia for more than 20 years. Its wide product range includes quality, Australian-made grandstands, tiered seating, bench seating, tables and chairs, shelters, bin enclosures, and change room furniture to suit every environment.

Felton Industries is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 accredited and an Approved Local Government Procurement Supplier in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.