GippSport recently conducted its Twenty- Sixth Annual General meeting.
According to outgoing Chair Ricky Ross the achievements of GippSport for the 2016-17 financial year were highlighted and the organization achieved some excellent outcomes thanks mainly to the fine work of GippSport staff based in Bairnsdale, Sale, Moe Newborough and Inverloch.
Julie Foat was unanimously elected as the new Chair of GippSport and thanked Ricky Ross for his outstanding leadership over the last decade. Julie becomes the first woman to be elected Chair and 
is very pleased that GippSport has retained appropriate Board Gender Balance for a number of years. “I am really honoured to be taking the role of Chair of GippSport and look forward to achieving our vision to be the regional leader of sport and active recreation in Gippsland,” said Ms Foat who is currently the Manager of Gippsland Breastscreen. “Julie is very active in community sport in her home town of Maffra and is a genuine role model for women and girls in the community, “said GippSport Executive Officer Barry Switzer.
This was the second year of the VicHealth Health Regional Sport Program aimed at engaging inactive and somewhat active people in sport. GippSport also delivered the Supporting Victorian Regional Sport and Recreation Program funded by the Victorian State Government through Sport and Recreation Victoria. Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, GippSport facilitated the innovative social marketing program called Deadly Sport Gippsland to support Aboriginal sport and health in the Gippsland Region. GippSport is a community partner with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to deliver the Good Sports Program. Currently there are almost 200 Gippsland sporting clubs involved with this alcohol management program. GippSport also facilitated 17 Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) courses across Gippsland which enabled 333 community sporting club members to gain their RSA certificate.
The Twenty- Sixth GippSport Board of Management was elected for 2017-18 and all positions were filled. The membership is as follows:
Chair: Julie Foat Deputy Chair: Ricky Ross Executive Member: Carolyne Boothman
Board Members: John Brookes, Ian Murphy, Jane Oakley, Tegan Rosin, Marcus Stone and Karen Tsebelis.
In 2017-18 GippSport will continue to deliver the following programs:
- VicHealth Regional Sport
- Supporting Victorian Sport and Recreation
- Deadly Sport Gippsland
- Good Sports
A copy of GippSport’s Annual Report 2016-17 is on the website: gippsport.com.au/about-us/
