|
GFD Newsletter December 2025
|
December news
|
Hi all, this is our last newsletter for the year, we plan to put one out quarterly or whenever there is a dialogue.
|
|
David Bennett, Secretary/Treasurer, Steering Committee
|
Committee news
|
2025 has been a big year for the committee, moving to a more stable and independent organisational footing.
|
|
Achievements have included: gaining Not-for-profit status, full financial independence, employment of an Executive Officer and development of a business plan.
|
|
We are also working on an investment case, a membership policy and a funding policy.
|
|
We are hoping with all this backroom work, we can concentrate on more dialogues and member events in 2026
|
Finance sub committee
|
Our Finance sub-committee is up and running with membership of Chris McEvoy (Chair and GFD President), David Bennett (Secretary/Treasurer), Monique Dawson (Member) and Peter West (Exec Officer).
|
|
The group is focussing on improving our financial systems and developing an investment case to take to prospective sponsors or funding bodies.
|
|
Thanks to our two major sponsors Rendere and Touchwood
|
Communication sub committee
|
Our communications subcommittee of Jess Reeves (Chair), Wendy Wright (Steering committee), Jo Lewis (Member), Brooke Garas (Member, Comms Expert), Esther Lloyd (Member, Comms expert) and Peter West (Exec support) conducted a workshop in mid-December to develop a Strategic Communications Plan.
|
|
A draft of the plan will be tabled with the Steering committee on 8 Jan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The committee would like to thank Louse Spensley from Ecogipps Collective who in her role, has supported GFD in establishing ourselves as a fully functional entity.
|
|
Louise has finished up with Ecogipps but her good humour, kindness and willingness to help out whenever and however she could, was greatly appreciated, we will miss her but wish her all the best in what comes next.
|
|
|
|
Dialogue videos
|
This year we posted two short videos produced from previous dialogues on Youtube, Facebook and LinkedIn. We hope to make more content like this over the next year to promote the group, but in case you missed them, the videos, each 5 minutes are linked below - they are worth a look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heyfield dialogue
|
Thanks everyone who attended our Recreation dialogue in November, we had a good turn up of 40 over the two days with lots of good conversation.
|
|
Every dialogue is different and we learn from each, so if you have any feedback please email eo@gippslandforestdialogue.org.au.
|
|
We did for this event carry out an evaluation survey, the results were as follows:
|
|
4.11 overall satisfaction
|
|
4.29 Organisation (agenda, format etc)
|
|
4.71 Logistics (food, venue, transport etc)
|
|
We also picked up a number of new members and established a facebook profile.
|
|
Some feedback we will consider included the 2 day format, agenda and structure, interactive online options, evening speaker, future themes and groups to encourage along. Attached below is a draft of the dialogue report, please provide any feedback or suggestions, we intend to table a copy with the Steering committee on the 8th January and if endorsed post the final approved version on our webpage and promote the report with stakeholders.
|
Thanks again for your support of the event. Below is a link to the draft report for comment (direct to eo@gippslandforestdialogue.org.au) and also some photos from the event If you want access to an editable version of the report to add comments please contact Peter (eo@gippslandforestdialogue.org.au)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next years plans
|
We are hoping 2026 will be a big year for GFD, with the following proposed.
|
|
Early 2026: GFD information session in Melbourne with key stakeholders
|
|
April: Alpine Ash dialogue (Event confirmed, Tom Fairman to lead, details in Jaunary)
|
|
June: Private forest conservancy (proposed)
|
|
October: Using fire (Ewan to lead)
|
|
We are also hoping to initiate some collaborations with the Gippsland Leadership Program and Broadening Horizons school program.
|
|
Wally will also be continuing to lead his place based dialogues around Noojee and maybe expand to other areas.
|
Merry Christmas
|
We would like to wish all our members and followers a very Merry Christmas
|
GFD membership profile
|
Forests are for everyone and GFD is open to anyone. We are only as good as the breadth of our membership. One challenge we have is getting this message out, that we welcome everyone and that we do have a diverse membership. At Heyfield we ran an exercise to explore the diversity profile of the dialogue - what voices we had in the room. The following graphic represents this and shows both the breadth but also helps us identify gaps or groups not represented we want to reach out to and involve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So you can help us out, complete the short survey below, it will ask 5 simple questions which will help us paint a picture of our membership and our diversity. It will also help us know where our weaknesses lie and where we need to recruit or encourage others along. It will literally take 30 seconds of your time but will help us immensely, in all sorts of ways including recruitment and funding. It is anonymous
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
