The Gippsland Community Foundation’s (GCF) 2025 Annual Report showcased a year of significant structural change and a massive investment in the region’s future through its tertiary scholarship program.
With a total of $1.6 million distributed across Gippsland this financial year, the Foundation has successfully transitioned from its
origins as a bushfire recovery fund into a permanent philanthropic partner for the broader region.
The report acknowledged the leadership team: Barry Henwood (chair); Lara Caplygin (deputy chair); Eric Sjerp (secretary); David Impey (treasurer); Directors: Paul Holton, Meg Allan, Daniel Poynton, Barry Rogers and Trevor Hancock.
The Foundation also paid tribute to departing founding members Helen Martin and Joe Rettino, as well as Monika Oudendyk, for their roles in establishing the organisation’s strong foundations.
The operational team is led by inaugural executive officer Michelle Dowsett, supported by Louise Holden (governance and administration) and Cherie Draper (community liaison).
A centrepiece of the 2025 report is the awarding of $211,500 in scholarships to 35 students from fire-impacted areas.
This program aims to ease the financial burden of tertiary study for Gippsland’s youth, ensuring local talent can access high-level education in fields ranging from medicine to the arts.
The 2025 Scholarship recipients include:
Healthcare and nursing: Bayley Croucher, Michael Johnston, Olivia Walker, Wendy Shepherd, Zoe Kapolos, Bianca Findlay, Charlotte Robinson, Jodie Lee Olsen, Kate Edwards, Naomi Sjerp, and Stella Mekken.
Medicine and science: Marc Sammut (Veterinary Medicine), Matisse Daniel (Medicinal Science), Ella Poore (Medicine), Michael Stevens (Medicine & Surgery), Zoe Barron (Vet Tech), Chelsea Filmer (Veterinary Science), and Celine Answer (Animal Science).
Education: Emma Halafihi, Heidi Lawrence, Emma Fellows, and Thomas Nation.
Engineering and industry: James Steel (Aerospace), Michael Squires, Jesse Stevens, and Charlotte Zagami (Agriculture).
Arts and design: Arete Green-Cook, Jya-Ruby Nation, and Ryley Gray.
Community and environment: Beau Lawrence (Sports), Jock Coates (Physical Ed), Sarah Faithful (Occupational Therapy), Toby Herbert (Physio), Bronwyn Molnar (Conservation), and Nicole Migotto-Brown (Early Childhood).
Chair Barry Henwood noted that the transition to the Gippsland Community Foundation name in early 2024 was a “significant milestone,” signalling a long-term commitment to every corner of the Gippsland footprint. The foundation’s financial figures underscore its growing influence. For the 2024/25 financial year, GCF distributed funds to more than 50 community projects.
Key highlights include:
– $211,500 in scholarships: 35 students, many from bushfire-affected regions, received tertiary scholarships to support studies ranging from nursing and engineering to veterinary science.
Bushfire recovery: The foundation delivered its sixth round of Community Bushfire Recovery Grants, continuing the long-term work of rebuilding after the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires.
To ensure the foundation remains a permanent resource, GCF has established a Public Ancillary Fund. This legal framework allows the organisation to operate in perpetuity, conducting its own fundraising to support regional activities that extend beyond bushfire recovery.
The report also detailed a robust partnership with Monash University’s “Fire to Flourish” program, which focuses on community-led recovery in Far East Gippsland localities like Cabbage Tree Creek, Bemm River, and Cann River.
By the numbers: 2024-2025
Total Grants Awarded (Since 2021): 480
Current Net Assets (GCF Ltd): $1.55 million
Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund Assets: $2.63 million Key Projects: Mallacoota Tool Library (16,768), East Gippsland All Blacks Aboriginal Association (10,000).
