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South West Community Foundation Latest News

  • South West Community Foundation AGM Invitation
    September 30, 2026

    Celebrating a year of local impact at the South West Community Foundation AGM

    The South West Community Foundation AGM 2026 will bring together supporters, grant recipients, partners and community members to reflect on the year, hear about the impact of local grants and celebrate the people contributing to communities across our region. Join...

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Oct 20

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What more could we achieve if we worked together?”

That was the question that stayed with our EO, Alison Byrne, following the Fletcher Jones Family Foundations’ Philanthropic Forum.

Our region has an extraordinary culture of generosity. Nineteen charitable foundations collectively invest millions of dollars into local communities each year. But the conversation challenged everyone in the room to think about how we build on that generosity to create even greater impact.

Alison had the privilege of contributing to the panel discussion alongside passionate community leaders, and hearing from keynote speaker Peter Winneke, whose insights pushed the group to think differently about how philanthropy can best serve communities.

Some of the strongest themes to emerge:

Backing local organisations with longer-term, flexible support
Valuing community knowledge and lived experience
Sharing resources and expertise across foundations
Recognising that a small grant at the right time can make an enormous difference
Telling the stories of what philanthropy makes possible, to inspire others to give

The forum also celebrated the launch of the Silver Ball Trustee Development Program, investing in the next generation of philanthropic leaders across the region.

“The real strength of philanthropy lies not just in the funding we provide, but in the relationships we build, the opportunities we create and the communities we support,” Alison said.

Thank you to the Fletcher Jones Family Foundations for bringing together so many people who care deeply about the future of our region.

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Oct 16

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What a wonderful evening at the South West Community Foundation Annual General Meeting at @noodledoof in Koroit.

It was so lovely to welcome our community, partners, board members and supporters together in one room, and the warmth and energy in the space was a reminder of just how special this community is.

We were delighted to host guest speaker Sarah Hardy, Board Director at Australian Communities Foundation and Southside Community Foundation, whose insights and experience made for a genuinely inspiring and thought-provoking contribution to the evening.

One of the real highlights of the night was hearing firsthand from several of the Koroit community groups we have recently provided funding to. Listening to the impact those contributions have made, directly from the people experiencing it, was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

We also took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank outgoing board member David McIntyre, who retires after an incredible nine years of service to South West Community Foundation. Nine years of dedication, expertise and genuine care for this community. Thank you, David.

A huge thank you to the team at Noodledoof for having us, and to everyone who continues to support the work of South West Community Foundation across our region. What a night of community and collaboration.

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Oct 11

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We’re thrilled to share that the @neilporterlegacy event, held recently at Cobden Technical College, received funding through the Gardiner Foundation Community Development Grant program, facilitated by South West Community Foundation.

The event brought together students from Cobden, Camperdown, Terang and the surrounding district to explore the industries, careers and opportunities available to them right here in our region.

Connecting young people with local pathways and opportunities is one of the most meaningful investments a community can make. When students can see a future for themselves in the place they call home, it strengthens not only their own prospects but also the long-term resilience and vitality of our communities.

We’re proud to support the incredible work of the Neil Porter Legacy team and were delighted to play a part in bringing this event to life.

Congratulations to everyone involved in creating such a valuable experience for our region’s young people.

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Oct 8

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A final reminder that South West Community Foundation's Annual General Meeting is coming up this month and we would love to see you there.

Wednesday 14 October | 5:30 PM | Noodledoof, Koroit

We are delighted to welcome guest speaker Sarah Hardy, Board Director at Southside Community Foundation, former Deputy CEO of Philanthropy Australia, and Co-Founder of Youth Live4Life. Sarah brings a wealth of experience across philanthropy, community foundation governance and youth mental health and wellbeing, and we are very much looking forward to hearing from her on the night.

It's set to be a wonderful evening. We hope you can join us.

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Oct 6

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What  colourful event! The Colour Terang Festival brought an estimated 3,000 people to High Street at the end of September, filling the town with colour, community spirit and plenty of celebration.

From the Show 'n' Shine featuring trucks, cars and motorbikes, through to music, food and creativity, this event was a wonderful showcase of everything that makes small community celebrations so special. The enthusiasm and effort of everyone involved, from organisers to volunteers to participants, made it something truly memorable.

South West Community Foundation was proud to support the Terang and District Progress Association through a @Gardinerdairy Foundation Community Development Grant to help bring this event to life. Seeing thousands of people fill the streets of Terang is a great reminder of what community-led events can do for a town.

Congratulations to everyone involved in making this year's festival such a success.

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Oct 2

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When the Koroit Community Fund supported the @kfncofficial's newly formed All Abilities Football Team, it wasn't just about uniforms. It was about belonging.

This year, for the first time, Koroit was able to field a team in the All Abilities competition. Players from Koroit, Warrnambool and across the district come together each week to share in something that so many of us take for granted — the experience of playing football at a club level.

With matching uniforms for every player and coach, something shifted. These players aren't just part of a separate program. They're part of the Koroit Football Netball Club, one of the most successful clubs in the Hampden Football Netball League, full stop.

They train at Victoria Park oval. They join in club teas. They stay to cheer on every other grade. And by all accounts, watching this group find their place within the club has been one of the most heartening things to witness this season.

This is what community impact looks like in action. We're proud to support it.
Our supporters

South West Community Foundation is proud to acknowledge our sponsors and partners.

Contact us
PO Box 478
Warrnambool VIC 3280
info@southwestcommunityfoundation.org
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land we live and work on, the lands of the Gunditjmara, Giraiwurung, Guilidjan, Gadubanud and Djabwurrung. We recognise the diverse needs of our community and we ensure our services are inclusive of all children, young people and their families including those who are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ and persons living with disability.

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