Innovation Gippsland

May 2007 Newsletter

Innovation Gippsland is about sharing the success stories - taking stock of innovation in our growing region.

It’s also about business, community and all levels of government working together to promote, lead and stimulate innovation and growth.

The Gippsland Local Government Network (Bass Coast, Baw Baw, East Gippsland, Latrobe, South Gippsland and Wellington) has committed to the following principles to encourage the development of the region:

• Help people become better leaders and encourage entrepreneurship.
• Recognise the importance of innovation in sustainable economic, environmental and community development.
• Foster innovation in our communities, schools and businesses
• Unite as a region to celebrate innovation through Innovation Gippsland.

www.innovationgippsland.com

Innovation Gippsland’s new website is now active at www.innovationgippsland.com . Visit the site for program information and updates on what’s happening during our regional celebration of innovation this month.

Thanks to Anchor Web Design for putting it all together and to Gippsland.com for their services over the past few years.

Come up with a new slogan for 2008 Innovation Gippsland and win a great Gippsland getaway

We need your help to develop a new slogan for Innovation Gippsland 2008. The slogan must capture the essence of Innovation and what it means to you.

The author of the best slogan, as judged by an independent panel, will win a Gippsland tour package valued at $1,000. Thanks to Destination Gippsland for facilitating the prize:

• Buchan Caves Reserve, Buchan One night in the Wilderness Retreat and a pass to tour one of the show caves (Royal or Fairy) at the Buchan Caves Reserve*
• Montfort Manor, Traralgon
• Two night’s accommodation staying in luxury ‘Marble’ Spa Suite with views overlooking heated lap lane & swimming pool.
• Substantial continental breakfast provided both mornings
• Chauffer driven in 1953 fully restored French Citroen to local restaurant
• Complimentary afternoon tea daily
• Bottle local wine on arrival
• Golf 20% off green fees, 30% off buggy hire
• Old Gippstown Moe
• One family pass to Old Gippstown Moe
• Brandy Creek Wines & View Café, Drouin
• $100 food and wine voucher to be used at the Brandy Creek Wines & View Café

To enter click here , look out for forms in your local paper or ask for more information at your local government or visitor information centres.

* Conditions apply.

Program Themes

This year’s program has a strong focus on business events, with extensive participation from community, the arts and tourism.

Business

Latrobe and Baw Baw

• The Young Women’s Leadership & Mentoring Programme will be launched at Traralgon on May 11and continue across Gippsland in 2007
• ‘Under New Management’ sessions on Networking and Marketing; May 3 and May 24 in Traralgon

South Gippsland and Bass Coast

• Creativity + Networks = A New Approach for Women in Business’ in Leongatha on May 11;
• Event planning workshop in Wonthaggi on May 8 and;
• Launch of the ‘Biz to Biz’ Networking Website on May 15.

East Gippsland

• Telstra Country Wide is hosting a ‘Business Everywhere You Need It’ breakfast on May 3 in Bairnsdale
• East Gippsland Shire Council will host an Economic Development Summit on April 26 at Bairnsdale.

Wellington

• The Gippsland Public Affairs & Marketing Network is holding ‘Innovation in Regional Communication - A workshop on best practice in Crisis Communications’ in Sale on May 10.

Community

• Gippsland Community Network Breakfasts will be held on May 22 at Warragul and on May 24 at Morwell.
• The Gippsland Community Leadership Program’s ‘Innovation in Community Leadership’ is on May 4 at Yinnar.
• Other community events include the Let’s Get Connected Program in East Gippsland and Wellington Shires, the Curlip Project in Orbost and Baw Baw Shire Council’s Community Engagement Program.    

Tourism

• Inspiration, Innovation and Leadership’, featuring Terry Hawkins on May 1 in Warragul,
• E-Marketing Forum’ for tourism and small business operators on May 9 in Leongatha,
• Tourism Excellence Workshop for operators in Sale on May 15

Environment

• Parks Victoria will host the Australasian Cave and Karst Management Conference from April 29 to May 5 at Buchan.
• An open afternoon at ASIRC at Monash University Gippsland on May 2
• Walhalla’s Old Town, New Lights LE lightbulb exchange on May 5 & 6.

Arts

• The Premiere of ‘Fire Up’ (part of the Prom Coast Sea Change Festival) will be held in Foster on April 28 and 29.
• Gippsland’s ‘Wild Dogs’ will be exhibiting at Queens Hall, Parliament House during the first week of May.
• The Regional Arts Victoria Symposium (including the inaugural RAVe Awards) will be held at Lakes Entrance on May 4 and 5.
• Latrobe City’s ‘Green Expectations’ program will be launched on May 25.
• Launch of the Location Victoria Gippsland Website at Bairnsdale on May 30

Education

• Educators across Gippsland will be working together to convene GippSpell during May.
• GippsTAFE will host ‘Virtual Worlds in Education’ on May 1 and ‘Virtual Wine Tasting’ on May 2 (both in Morwell).
• Baw Baw Latrobe Local Learning and Employment Network’s ‘Inspiring Young People’ series will be launched on May 2 and their ‘Sharing the Knowledge’ session on Koori education and training pathways will be held in Warragul on May 30.