On behalf of the board and team at the Greater Shepparton Foundation, I extend our sincere thanks to our community for your outstanding support throughout 2025.
This has been a year of meaningful impact — made possible by the generosity, trust and collaboration of our donors, partners, volunteers and community members.
Together, we have supported vital local initiatives, strengthened grassroots organisations and invested in programs that improve education, health, wellbeing and social connection across our region.
Through strategic grant making, community partnerships and collective giving, we have responded to emerging needs while building long-term resilience for Greater Shepparton.
One of the most powerful examples of this impact has been our Oral Language Intervention Program partnership, which continues to deliver measurable outcomes for young children across our community.
By strengthening early language development at primary schools and kindergartens in Mooroopna, children arrive at school more confident, better prepared to learn and with stronger foundations for lifelong success.
It is a reminder that early intervention, when done well and in partnership, can change trajectories.
Congratulations to our partners Mooroopna Primary School and Our Place for securing the Continuity of Early Learning category at the Victorian Early Years Awards.
Education has remained a cornerstone of our work in 2025. Through the Lift Off Scholarships, we have supported local students to pursue further education and training — reducing financial barriers and opening doors to opportunity.
These scholarships are not just an investment in individual students; they are an investment in the future skills, leadership and prosperity of our region.
This year also marked an important milestone with the launch of our Employment and Vocational Training Scholarships, a partnership with Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network.
Developed in response to local workforce needs, these scholarships support people to gain practical skills, qualifications and pathways into employment.
By backing vocational education and training, we are helping individuals build secure futures while strengthening our local economy.
Collaboration has been central to our impact this year, as we proudly partnered with Gardiner Foundation to launch a new grant round, expanding opportunities for neighbourhood houses to do their vital wellbeing work in community.
This partnership reflects our shared commitment to place-based philanthropy and to solutions that are shaped by the communities they serve.
Above is a sample of the work we have undertaken in 2025; to dive more deeply you can read our annual report on our website, greatershepparton.foundation/about
As we reflect on the year, we are reminded that these achievements are not ours alone — they belong to everyone who believes in a stronger, more inclusive community.
Greater Shepparton is home to one of the most diverse populations in the nation — a place where cultures, faiths, languages and stories come together.
This diversity is not only something to celebrate; it is a source of strength. It teaches us compassion, empathy and the importance of standing together, especially in times of uncertainty.
As the festive season approaches, we are reminded of the values that underpin our work: hope, connection and generosity.
It is a time to look out for one another, to listen deeply and to act with kindness.
As we move into the new year, may we continue to honour our differences, strengthen our bonds and work collectively toward a safer, more inclusive future for all.
On behalf of the Greater Shepparton Foundation, we wish you peace, reflection and togetherness this festive season.
The offices of Greater Shepparton Foundation will close at 4pm on Tuesday, December 23, and reopen at 9am on Monday, January 5.
Until next year.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer
