A new community foundation has been launched in East Gippsland.
The East Gippsland Community Foundation will provide a new way of ensuring the region’s long-term bushfire recovery initiatives are driven and delivered by its own communities.
The foundation is independent, locally run and able to fund initiatives that meet the needs of communities across the region.
Inaugural chairperson, Barry Henwood, is confident the foundation will play its part in helping East Gippsland’s communities find local solutions to their local challenges.
“There’s plenty of research showing that bushfire recovery works best when it is community-led, and that’s why it’s important that our fire-affected communities here in East Gippsland have genuine ownership of their recovery,” Mr Henwood said.
IMAGE: The board of the new East Gippsland Community Foundation: Brendan Pfanner, Joe Rettino (deputy chair), Sue Medson, Andy Tegart, Michelle Dowsett (executive officer), Barry Henwood (chair), Helen Martin and David Impey. (PS)
