New grants offered

Baw Baw Shire Council has conditionally offered more than $137,000 through its community grants – community projects program, supporting 35 local groups in the first funding round for the current financial year.
Grants of up to $5000 will support organisations deliver activities, events and programs that help create a healthy and thriving community and more sustainable shire.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Kate Wilson said it was encouraging to see such a diverse range of groups receive funding, with projects expected to benefit communities across the shire.
"The community groups successful in this round of funding reflect the diversity of our population and the broad range of interests, passions and needs across Baw Baw.
"These grants help local groups continue the valuable work they do, strengthening community connections, creating opportunities for participation and delivering benefits that extend well beyond their memberships.
"Investing in our community groups is an investment in the wellbeing and vibrancy of our region, and we look forward to seeing the positive outcomes these projects will achieve," she said.
A reception event will be held in July 2027 to celebrate the 2026-27 grant recipients.
Round one recipients included:
Anglican Parish of Drouin - $3999for safety equipment and audio upgrade
Aus Hair of the Dog Rescue - $4880 for Barkin' Mad Ultra event timing services and marquee rental
Baw Baw Indian Community - $5000 Navratri Mahotsav 2026 Festival - venue, audio and PA systems, lighting, cultural decoration hire and marketing and promotion
Baw Baw Sustainability Network - $5000 Creative Harvest Festival - website upgrade, marketing and photography
Community Church Warragul - $4840 Warragul Carols - hire of staging and audio-visual equipment including screen and trailer
Drouin South CWA - $2073 for laptop and IT accessories
Drouin Badminton Club - $3599 for a badminton shuttlecock feeding machine
Drouin Combined Churches Committee - $4166 Drouin Carols by Candlelight - advertising, pamphlet distribution, Aus Post delivery and signage
Drouin Cricket Club - $2805 Blasters Program - qualified coaches to facilitate Blasters program
Drouin Dragons Soccer Club - $4900 for all-weather path connections at Bellbird Park Reserve
Drouin Presbyterian Church - $3150 for an automatic electronic defibrillator and associated lock box
Gippsland Associated Theatres - $2450 Theatresports 2027 - judges, master of ceremonies and band
Hallora Marathon - $5000 for traffic management costs
Labertouche Badminton Club - $4699 for a badminton shuttlecock feeding machine
Labertouche Ladies Social Group - $4870 to purchase a dishwasher and rangehood for the Labertouche Public Hall KitchenNarracan Hall - $4396 for a four drawer fireproof filing cabinet, delivery and installation
Neerim District Community House and Men's Shed - $4620 for a mobile welding fume extractor
Noojee and District Historical Society - $4490 for digital multimedia display screens
Rawson Cricket Club - $5000 for outdoor infrared strip heaters and protected power circuits
Tetoora Road Community Centre - $2731 for the East Ward Community Singing Series includes Baw Baw Singers performing four events and hall hire at Tetoora Road, Ellinbank, Hallora and Seaview Public Halls
Thorpdale Mechanics Institute - $4125 for three new toilet suites, stainless steel cistern
Trafalgar Golf Club - $2298 for laptop and IT accessories
Trafalgar Holden Museum - $3663, Cruise 69 - road management, toilet hire, promotion and printing
Trafalgar Lions Club - $3755 for an automatic electronic defibrillator and associated lock box at Childers
Trafalgar Tennis Club - $1605 for a four burner barbecue.
Warragul Community Men's Shed - $4026 for meeting room tables and chairs
Warragul Cricket Club - $2150 iPads for live scoring project
Warragul Junior Football Club - $5000 for a computer and electronic siren
Warragul Municipal Band - $4993 for two honour boards, one concert bass drum and stand, and two lightweight marching snares with harnesses
Warragul Tennis Club - $4900 for mini sube storage container
Warragul Youth Theatre - $5000 Shrek Jr production, West Gippsland Arts Centre venue hire
Warranor Junior Football Club - $4974 for sporting equipment; footballs, bump pads, ruck bags, training bibs and dome sets with stands
West Gippsland Vehicle Restorers Club - $4412 for a double fryer, pie warmer with glass doors and an upright freezer
Wild Dog Triathlon Club - $2106 for a printed marquee, corflute signage and freight
Yarragon Lions Club - $1544 for a laptop and IT accessories