Gippsland › Latest news › Baw Baw Local News

Baw Baw Shire to host community barbecues supporting farmers through 'Look Over the Farm Gate' grants

Baw Baw Shire Council will host five community barbecues supporting farmers' wellbeing through Look Over the Farm Gate grants, offering connection, resources, and mental health support amid ongoing dry conditions.

By news@gippsland - 27th August 2025 - Back to News

Baw Baw Shire Council is announcing a series of community barbecue events over the coming months made possible after being awarded funding through the 'Look Over the Farm Gate' community grants program.

Free 'Look Over the Farm Gate - Help a Mate' barbecues run 11am - 2pm; families welcome anytime to connect, share meals, and access resources, visit council website for dates and locations

Supporting farming communities

The 'Look Over the Farm Gate' community grants program was established as part of the Victorian government's drought support and is administered by the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) with the support of Agriculture Victoria. The program offers grants of up to $5,000 to local groups across Victoria, with a focus on helping farmers and their families who are under stress.

These grants help agencies supporting farming communities to organise events and activities which support mental health and wellbeing and bring people together. Baw Baw Shire Council has been successful in receiving funding to host five community barbecue events across five towns across the Shire.

Farmers facing challenges

Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Councillor Danny Goss says the 'Look Over the Farm Gate - Help a Mate' community barbecues are all about bringing our farming communities together, to look out for each other and to ensure our community knows where to turn to for help and mental health support.

"Dry conditions are affecting farmers across Baw Baw. Some areas are facing their lowest rainfall on record and dry conditions are expected to continue throughout 2025. The introduction of the Victorian government's Emergency Services Levy is a blow to farmers already facing difficult conditions."

"Baw Baw Shire Councillors will continue to stand by our community, our farmers, our volunteers and advocate for the levy to be fully repealed. These barbecues are free and informal and provide an opportunity to connect with others and have a chat about what is happening in the farming community," said Cr Goss.

Connecting over barbecues

Representatives from Agriculture Victoria, Gipps Dairy, Head2Health, Nex Solutions (formerly Rural Financial Counselling Service) and Food and Fibre Gippsland, as well as other primary producing advocacy groups will be on hand to talk with farming families and provide helpful resources.

The 'Look Over the Farm Gate - Help a Mate' community barbecue events will be held from 11am - 2pm at the following locations:

• Tuesday 23 September: Buln Buln Football Netball Club
• Thursday 25 September: Longwarry Football Netball Club
• Wednesday 1 October: Trafalgar Football Netball Club
• Wednesday 8 October: Neerim South Football Netball Club
• Tuesday 14 October: Ellinbank Football Netball Club

Registrations are not required. Families are welcome to come along at any time during the day to share a meal and access the resources that are available. For more information keep an eye out on Baw Baw Shire Council - Event Calendar website.

Pictures from Michael Leaney - Community Advocate Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com