BAW BAW // COUNCILLORS have voted to defer a decision on two community sponsorship requests until after they endorse a new sponsorship policy is endorsed.
First published in the 14 August 2015 edition of the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen – all dates relative to then. Click here to read the full edition online.
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Councillors were due to vote on a motion to allow one-time sponsorship payments to the West Gippsland Music and Drama Eisteddfod and Olivia’s Place at Wednesday’s meeting, but a motion from Warragul ward councillors Joe Gauci which was supported by all councillors postponed that decision.
“I’m not against any of the sponsorship proposals,” Cr Gauci said.
“We’ve worked really hard on the grant situation. What we haven’t finalised yet, but it’s close, is the policy on sponsorship.
“I’m really hopeful in thinking the policy won’t be that far away.”
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Cr Gauci said he did not want to approve the sponsorship proposals on the night because they “need to be after the policy is passed to ensure they are in line with the goals.”
“It has to be fair,” he said.
“Sponsorship is very important to many parts of the community.”
Five submissions from groups seeking sponsorship were made to councillors at the meeting, four of which were from supporters of the eisteddfod, including group president Pauline Hastings.
“We have sourced smaller and cheaper venues,” she told councillors.
“With these savings we have managed to [develop] a contingency to allow for one eisteddfod with no funding.
“There is absolutely no further fat to trim from our costs.”
