Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund

About the Fund

The Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund was established in response to the 2019/2020 bushfires which devastated our region.

Along with the Community Enterprise Foundation (covering the Alpine LGA) and the East Gippsland Community Foundation (covering East Gippsland), Border Trust has partnered with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal to support the Towong Shire.

As trustee of the Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund, Border Trust has distributed $2,962.062 through grant programs to support long term recovery initiatives.

We thank the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and the generosity of public donors for enabling this place-based distribution and for the investment in significant community identified priorities.

This fund is now closed.

Financial Statements – Audit Opinion : details here

Grant Program

Update: August 2026

Border Trust worked with key stakeholders and the Towong community in relation to final distributions for the Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund with distributions aligned to Mental Health and Wellbeing initiatives, as identified through these discussions.

The fund is now closed, however, we encourage you to stay connected to the outcomes of the program through our website and social media stories.

For further information, please contact the Border Trust office at admin@bordertrust.org.au

Grant Recipients

• Round 1: Feb 2022 – 7 Grants totalling $316,880 – Details Here
• Round 2: May 2022 – 7 Grants totalling $347,818 – Details Here
• Round 3 Sept 2022 – 6 Grants totalling $272,213 – Details Here
• Round 4: March 2023 – 11 Grants totalling $373,400 – Details Here
• Round 5: July 2023 – 8 Grants totalling $222,790 – Details Here
• Round 6: Feb 2024 – 10 Grants totalling $393,806  – Details Here
• Round 7a: Feb 2025 – 5 Grants totalling $261,030 – Details Here
• Round 7b: May 2025 –  10 Grants totalling $345,551 – Details Here
• Round 8: August 2026 – 8 grants totalling  $428,547 – Details Here

Prefer to hear these stories directly from the people behind them?

Explore our Towong video series on YouTube to see and hear from local recipients about the lasting impact of bushfire recovery funding across their communities.

Visit our YouTube Towong Recipient channel: HERE

Community Consultation

The purpose of this consultation was to check in with the Towong community to identify emerging needs and local priorities. By engaging directly with residents, leaders, and community groups, Border Trust will ensure that future grants address both immediate recovery challenges and longer- term opportunities.

Media Release available HERE

Read the full document HERE

“It’s reassuring to know Border Trust is listening to the community. This consultation shows they’re committed to managing the funds responsibly and ensuring they make a real difference where it’s needed most.”