MAY
"A Girl's Day out" continued its role as a prominent fundraiser in the community with its event held at Lardner Park.
The theme for the event in 2024 was "Permission to Shine" and shine they did, with more than 700 guests in attendance. The Girl's Day Out event raised $135,000 for local breast cancer support.
Childhood trauma is the greatest risk to a future of continued family violence, according to Warragul Police family violence officer Ben Vahland. Calling for proactive change, Sen Sgt Vahland said children need to know and understand what respect is.
It was announced that the average value of residential land dropped in Baw Baw Shire for the first time in four years. The draft Baw Baw Shire revenue and rating plan showed a decline in the average value of a residence by 0.4 per cent to $695,450 for the 12-month period.
It was confirmed that a brake had been put on the timing of the completion of a new West Gippsland Hospital, with no funding for it in the state government's 2024-25 budget to kickstart construction. WGHG chief executive officer Dan Weeks said the previously announced timeline that the building would be completed by 2028 was "in serious jeopardy."
Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham said the state government budget left the electorate virtually empty handed and put rural and regional communities at risk. He said that the area had been neglected and "promises broken"
A new library and learning centre proposed for Warragul received a boost with an announcement it had received $14.5 million in federal government funding. Following a 12-month community advocacy campaign, the Baw Baw Culture and Connection precinct was listed among successful in round one of the Growing Regions Program.
The stage one works - which the Baw Baw Shire estimated would cost $35 million - features a three-storey facility on vacant land at the corner of Civic Place and Albert St. The project is set to go to tender before the end of 2024 and be completed in 2025/2026.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies came together in May at two ceremonies raising the pride flag for IDAHOBIT day. The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia aims to educate people about and raising awareness for the work that still needs to be done to combat discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.
A rally of more than 1000 people at Drouin gave a forceful vote against closing the Central Highlands State Forest to the public by incorporating it in a proposed Great Forest National Park. In addition to a strong turn out of Baw Baw Shire residents, people braved foggy conditions to drive up to four hours to attend from as far away as Omeo, Woods Point, Marysville and Alexandra to reject the proposal.
JUNE
Baw Baw Shire Council elections in October would again be based on electing three councillors in three wards. But, almost 1760 people will be voting in a ward other than where they live.
Motorists frustrated by traffic congestion in and around the central areas of Warragul and Drouin face further uncertainty if anything will be done.
Baw Baw Shire's chief executive officer Mark Dupe said the state government's 2024-2025 budget did not include any funding for the Warragul and Drouin road network. In a statement in response to queries by the Gazette, Mr Dupe said "council continues to meet regularly with the state government to better manage the future arterial roads in Warragul and Drouin."
Max Papley of Bunyip and Claire Henshall of Warragul were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia over the King's birthday weekend. Mr Papley received his award in recognition of community service to the community of the Cardinia Shire. Mrs Henshall received her award as recognition for her lengthy service to the community, including the St Joseph's Catholic Parish and service to the Warragul Football Netball Club.
Some dairy industry leaders believed farmers would struggle to break even in the next 12 months if milk processing companies didn't lift their opening farmgate. Most processors have offered initial prices in the range of $8 to $8.50 per kilogram for milk solids - a figure a Trafalgar sharefarmer said would return the farm $300,000 less than for the prior year. Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett said the price offerings could accelerate the trend of dairy farmers leaving the industry.
Some residents in the Baw Baw Shire were affected by a data breach. Council confirmed that some 1250 people who made an after-hours call to the shire from June 2014 to January 2016 received a text informing them of the breach. People affected were told that "the information stolen and published is considered low risk."
In unprecedented scenes, two councillors voted against Baw Baw Shire's budget when it was presented for adoption. One labelled councillors and the budget "out of touch" while another strongly opposed East Ward's "raw deal."
A man was shot during a home invasion in Warragul in what police believed was a targeted attack. They alleged two offenders forced entry into a Dunn St house and shot a man in the knee. He was transported to hospital in a non life-threatening condition.
Trafalgar residents and sporting teams were disappointed with Baw Baw Shire's decision to dump plans for a second football oval for the town. The project was slated to begin with $1.2 million in funding from the budget. Instead, it dropped off the council's adopted long-term infrastructure plan.