Baw Baw leaders graduate

Baw Baw Shire was well represented at the Gippsland Community Leadership Program’s recent graduation.

Among the 26 graduates were Sasee Manodeepan, Sally Schimleck, Stuart Shattock, Erika McInerney, Matt Synan and Sallie Jones from Warragul, Ainsley James from Trafalgar, Angela Sgarbossa from Neerim South, Kim McFarlane from Berry Creek and Leah Mether and Sally Neenan both from Willow Grove.

Auspiced by the Committee for Gippsland since 2011, this year saw the 22nd graduation of the program held at The Traralgon Vineyard.

Community projects undertaken by the graduates as part of GCLP were showcased during the graduation ceremony with Erika McInerney, Arfa Khan and Angela Sgarbossa presenting the community projects.

This year’s projects included Water Works promoting healthier and environmentally friendlier drinking options across Gippsland, the Proud Gippslandian t-shirt project promoting Gippsland, as well as the other projects that sought to raise awareness of homelessness in Gippsland, increase regional engagement through the Regional Assemblies as well as a youth scholarship for GCLP in 2018.

GCLP program director Jenny Hammett said the group community projects had brought a new dimension to the program, delivering an immediate impact across Gippsland.

“The five projects have provided a practical application of the skills and knowledge the graduates have learnt throughout the course of the year and have given them real experience of the challenges and rewards of collaboration,” she said.

“2017 has positioned GCLP well for the next five years with a number of new initiatives introduced this year.

“The response has been tremendous with a significant increase in applications for the 2018 program.

“The Gippsland Community Leadership Program strongly supports the development of leadership capability across the region and is delighted with the manner in which the 2017 graduates have embraced the opportunities presented to them this year.

“We take great pleasure in congratulating them on their achievements this year and look forward to seeing their ongoing contribution to the region in the coming years.”