Locals among GCLP graduates
West Gippsland was well represented at the Gippsland Community Leadership Program recent graduation with locals Elena Kelareva, Kate Wallis, Pollyanna Gibson and Shane Paynter among the 27 graduates of this year’s program.
Almost 100 guests enjoyed an evening with the graduates presenting their syndicate community projects during the night. These projects were a highlight of the evening and are a culmination of the work done by the leadership group over the past 10 months.
The subject matter of the projects was individually selected by each group and were all based around value adding to the Gippsland community, and ultimately leaving an on-going legacy for the community. The projects deliverables were: Mate bystander workshop – Deliver MATE bystander workshop to GCLP 2018 and GLCP alumni through partnership with Gippsland Women’s Health. Through one of the alumni, this program is soon to be delivered throughout the Loy Yang B power station.
Supporting East Gippsland’s young professionals – Deliver a 12-month action plan to the Four Rivers Young Professionals Network, which is a new group designed to provide social networking and professional development to young professionals in Gippsland.
Side by Side Gippsland Youth Mentoring – To engage with Gippsland youth to support their transition through school into working life by connecting them with programs that assist them along their journey. This include engaging GCLP alumni as mentors.
Project Take Off – delivered a social inclusive event for young people aged 15-25 with disabilities across Gippsland. The project included parting with Empowering Leadership Reference Group and Latrobe City-Rural Access Program to deliver the event.
Gipplanders promoting Gippsland delivered a project to strengthen the potential of a smaller Gippsland town (Stratford) through increased promotion. During this project the group actively engaged with the Stratford community and the end result was a entertaining video promoting all things good in Stratford
In 2018 the GCL program covered the length and breadth of Gippsland with its launch back in March at the Criterion Hotel in Sale and two-day residentials in Inverloch, Phillip Island and Omeo.
Over the course of 2018 the cohort visited Trafalgar, Latrobe Regional Hospital, East Gippsland food and agriculture venues, Parliament House in Melbourne, Meeniyan, Fulham prison, CFA facilities, Loy Yang and late in the year spent four days in Canberra.
The graduation evening finished with slide show of the year with commentary from graduates Bridie and Holly.
It included a special presentation to out-going program director Jenny Hammett, who has been director for the past two years but involved with the program (in some capacity) for nearly all of its 22 years. Jenny was acknowledged on the night as a great humble leader herself. She has had a profound impact of many of the graduates throughout the entirety of the program.
GCLP 2019 will begin with a launch on February 21.