The RSL Commercial Club and Rules Club see an annual gaming revenue return of more than $1 million each year.

To be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction the clubs presented $119,930 to the city’s charities and programs.

The biggest benefactor in this year’s ClubGRANTS program was the Forrest Centre nursing home.

Its $40,000 grant will be used to fund the final construction stages of the hospice, which is due to be opened by the end of September.

“There isn’t a hospice anywhere in Wagga so this one will be the only one,” said Forrest Centre board member Michael Quirk.

Over the past three years, the hospice has received up to $120,000 in grants.

The construction has cost in the realm of $5 million, with the shortfall made up through private fundraising.

“We’re a not-for-profit and we’ve always relied on contributions from the community,” Mr Quirk said.

“The community is absolutely on board with [the hospice].

“It provides something that’s not here now, and it means people who are dying can live their final days in dignity with round-the-clock care.”

Another group on the grant recipient list this year was the Mount Austin Clontarf Academy, which received $5,000 towards its Indigenous student engagement program.

“We’ll be using the grant to increase the nutritious foods options available to the academy,” said Wagga director Pat Edmunds.

“A bit will go towards our community engagement projects, like the one we recently ran for Do Something Day about a month ago.

“We did some community tip runs to help members of the Rules Club take drop off some of their rubbish at the tip.

“And we’ll  update our sports equipment too."

Over the past four years, the Wagga Rules Club has provided funding and support to the foundation, benefiting more than 400 students.

There are currently 95 Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students in the Wagga program.

“It’s really important to improve engagement and healthy lifestyles in the community, it’s about self-confidence and self-esteem," Mr Edmunds said.

“We’re about helping them to become good blokes who will be good dads one day.”

In that time, the program’s alumni have transitioned from school to university, trades, and beyond.

“Certainly there would be more [Indigenous] boys in meaningful employment because the program helped them stay in school, do their HSC, and find stable jobs so they can have a good impact on society.”

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