update comming soon...

"I remember when I began to understand about putting out my hand. 

It was in 1994 Melbourne Australia at the International Conference of Women in Agriculture. Heather Mitchell the first woman president of a farmer's organisation in Australia gave us some advice. 

"Put your hand out" she said. 

"In greetings, welcome newcomers, and bring other women with you, so that when your time is up, there will be many women to take your place. My only regret" she said "after my 4 years as President, was that there were no women to follow."

Thank-you to the Irish Farmer's Association for putting your hand out, across the sea,  to invite we Australian farm women to attend this conference.

My talk today is in 3 parts. 

First - Australian women in agriculture; who we are,

Second -  what we do,

Finally - what we have learnt that may help you to move 'fast forward'.

1.         Women in agriculture in Australia - who we are and what we do?

Australian Women in Agriculture is a big topic.  Like women in Ireland.  It's impossible to generalise about half the population.  We are not a homogenous group.  We have different interests, are different ages, levels of education, skills and have different reasons for being in agriculture.  We have different routes to farming; some women married men who where farmers, others are daughters of farmers and inherited the farm, some have bought  their own farm, others are managers, or skilled labour, some are widows or retired from active farming and are now leasing the land.  We come in all shapes and sizes. Take my mother for example.

My mother was the eldest daughter of farmers.  Her family have been farming in Australia for 4 generations.  After she and dad married they bought a dairy farm.  Dad was 'the farmer' and Mum, proudly the Farmer's Wife.  Everyone called it Paul's farm, his farm. 

Mum always said that she 'didn't work' although she did all the "looking after" of us 13 children.  She cultivated an extensive vegetable garden, hens, geese and turkeys.  She made jams and preserved fruit from the large orchard.  She made clothes, grew flowers and was active in the local community. Many here today would recognise this role - the farmer's wife.

I am the 4th child in this large family.  I trained as a teacher.  When I was in my late 20's decided to buy my own farm.   I now grow merino sheep for wool and have a small walnut orchard.   I also have 'paid' work running training programs for farm women which is funded by the Australian dairy and horticulture industries.

About 10 years ago I went back to study and did my Masters Degree in Agriculture and Rural Development. For my thesis I studied the role  & work of women in agriculture. 

Through my study I came to understand that my mother did "work".  She worked all her life.  My study helped me understand that women's work is often invisible.    And that particularly the work of women in farming is invisible. That their work is rarely counted.  (And this is one of the very significant things Australian Women in Agriculture have done - we have counted our work and made it visible.)

I learnt that in Australia there are approximately 120,000 farm businesses, 96% of these farms are family businesses.  Australia has a total population of 20 million people and farmers are 12% of the total.  The Census in 1996 showed that one third of all farm managers were women and approximately 30% of the farm work force is female.

Through my study I also came to understand the division of labour that occurs on many farms.  There is men's work and women's work.  The dividing line is what we in Australia refer to, as the house paddock fence.  When I was growing up, outside this fence was Dad's territory - his cattle, his sheep, his fields, his crops, his machinery, hay sheds, his pasture.  His work - his farm. And when farm work was counted it was this outside work which was counted, it was called productive, it was called farming. He was called a farmer.

Inside the fence was Mum's territory.  Her vegetable and flower garden, her hen house, her eggs, her house and importantly - the manufacturing center of our existence - her kitchen.

Through my study I came to understand that Mum did work as a farmer's wife. And while her work was not counted in the census, was not called work and was not thought to be productive - it was very important work.  It was important to her, to us, to our farm business, to our community and to our national economy. 

"Adding together the value of farm women's on-farm contribution, their off-farm wage income and the value of household, volunteer and community work, women contribute 48% of total real farm income.  This contribution was worth almost $14 billion in 1995-96; $4 billion in on-farm work, $1 billion in off-farm work, over $8 billion in household work and almost mce_marker.5 billion in volunteer and community work." (source: Missed Opportunities report, Vol 2 p 53. RIRDC 1998)

Through my study I came to understand the importance of language.   "It's my farm" says an old man.  "I farm by myself."   The young woman asks. "What not married? no children " However there are very few single men farmers in Australian with 96% of farms being family farms.   The term farmer - 'he'  - hides all the other people, women and children who work on a farm. Farm family, farm family business or farming partnerships, are more accurate terms.

Images are also important.  Agricultural publications have a very important role to play in making women and their work, more visible.  Images of women working in agriculture should be in the news section of the Farm Journal, rather than tucked away in 'women's  or social sections' in section 2.

People ask me - "are you a farmer Cathy?"   I find it a hard question to answer. 

What is a farmer?  I own my land.  I earn good money from the sale of my wool. I also have off-farm income which is related to agriculture and farming.  I am active in my rural community.  I am a member of our farmer's organisation.  I even have a vegetable and flower garden. But - can a woman be a farmer?

A relative of mine ( male farmer) was very shocked when first he heard that I had bought a farm.  We were at a farmer's meeting.

 "You're not a farmer Cathy" he said. 

"Why not?" I asked.

"You'll never be a farmer because you cannot lift a fly blown wether onto the back of a ute." He was implying that as a woman I didn't have the strength to be a farmer.

And a local woman farming friend came to my rescue.

"Of course Cathy's a farmer" she said. "She'll farm in such a way that her sheep won't get fly struck."

And I knew then that I could be a farmer.  I am a different sort of farmer to my relative.  I don't have his strength but I can use my mind and skills to farm.  After all I am a woman.  And I do both inside and outside work. And I knew then, that women - would bring new skills to farming, to agriculture. We had and have an important role to play, and vital contribution to make.   I believe that without the active involvement of women, agriculture will be unsustainable.

Many women in agriculture in Australia are like me - we wear many hats.  We have many roles.  We are farmers and more.  We think the term Women in Agriculture is a much better way of describing the diversity of our work, our roles and our lives. We have called our organisation Australian Women in Agriculture (On the web: www.awia.org.au).  We have many different responsibilities and jobs - researchers, journalists, scientists, managers, sales people, students, workers.  Not to forget being mothers, wives, aunts, sisters, neighbours, community builders.  Our passion is food and fibre. 

2.         Women in Agriculture in Australia: what have we done.

In 1994 we held the first ever international conference of women in agriculture.  Over 850 participants from 35 countries.  We became seriously organised.  We became visible to ourselves.  We became visible to policy makers, industry groups  and to the media.  We found our voice.

A major outcome of this conference was the decision by our Commonwealth Government to establish a Women's Unit in Canberra within the Department of Agriculture.  We also have these units in each of our state departments of agriculture.  The staff in these units produce newsletters and other forms of communication.  They make sure that women's voices are heard within the bureaucracy.  They help us understand how government works. They communicate with us.

Our universities and places of tertiary and further education started to run courses for women - women on farm skills courses became very popular.  These academic institutions did research and held conferences. We made links with women researchers in other countries - Dr Sally Shortall from Queens University was a great inspiration. We counted our work.  We published the results. We became visible in the statistics.

We took up the theme of "Bloom Where You are Planted" and got organised within our own communities.  We held local, state and regional Gatherings of Farm Women.  We networked.

AWiA  is the key to our organisation.  It

-         is an incorporated company,

-         there are members in every state

-         has one annual general meeting and 2 general meetings

-         650 members

-         elected board of 9 directors, who met monthly by teleconference

-         a national president, treasurer, secretary are the only office holders

-         reference groups which are focused around issues (no local branches)

-         works mainly by networking, email and newsletter "The Buzz"

-         employs a part time administrator

-         contracts with Government to 'do things'

-         supports it members through awards, scholarships and education opportunities

-         I am the immediate past president of AWiA

We also have financial and 'inkind support from agribusiness and industry groups. They see the need to increase the participation of women in their areas of responsibility.  Sponsorship for our events comes from banks and agribusinesses including superannuation companies.

Governments too are great supporters.  Through the "units' and the various equity processes, women in agriculture continue to work to have our views acknowledged. Agricultural research programs have been very important in enabling us to research women's work, to consult with farm and agricultural women, to run conferences  and to write reports of our work. 

The rural media has been another great friend to women in agriculture.  Many rural journalists are members of AWiA and they ensure that women farmers are interviewed, their opinions recorded, their pictures taken and our voices are heard.

3.         And What Works.  What have we learnt?

That women's work is important.   We have learnt that women are ok as they are:  Be it a farmer's wife, a farmer, a farm labourer, a woman married to a farmer and her off-farm income being used to support the farm business, a farmer's daughter working on the farm.  The system has to change, rather than women changing. We don't want women becoming like men, or vise versa.

We have learnt there is no "one" place or role for women.  Women's place is where ever women are, and where ever they want to be. On the farm, in the house, in the kitchen, on the tractor, in parliament, in the milking parlor.

We have learnt that we need to share information between each other and between our groups.  That the internet and email in particular, has been our most useful tool.  We also use the radio for sharing information. We have learnt that we have a strong voice and important things to say.

We put out hands out to each other - in greeting; to welcome the newcomers and to ask others to come with us.  If we are going to a meeting - its so much nicer to ring a neighbour and travel together rather than go by yourself. Plus there are the benefits of the sharing information before hand and the debriefing afterwards.

We are solutions focused - practical and pragmatic.

We have learnt that language is important.

We have learnt that is is very important to say how things really are.  Not to pretend. To take off the mask of 'being nice'.  To tell the truth about our lives and our work.  To say these things at home, and also within our farmer organisations, to government.  Then it is important to say how these things could be improved.

There are two main areas where AWiA has played a major role: Education and policy development.

Education:  As an organisation AWiA has worked to give its members access to relevant education and skills training.  For women, by women with women.

Women on farms skills courses have been very popular. In a local hall, with professional child care for our children, a small group of women meet to learn from each other about calving, reversing tractors, technical aspects of fencing, of fixing small motors, about pasture renovation.  Public speaking, using the internet and computers, writing a personal resume, or a media release and assertiveness skills have all been popular courses.

We have run leadership courses to support and skill women to confidently take roles within their industry organisations.  (Public speaking, chairing a meeting, writing minutes, duties of a company director, international trade, exporting, understanding agripolitical issues).  Marketing and business skills courses have also been popular.

Policy Development:  Accurate research and relevant data provides the backbone of all our lobbying.  AWiA members work closely with our Rural Women's Networks (Units) to access Government and make sure the implications of policy on women are understood.  We hold major national forums on relevant issues. Once a year on International Women's Day March 8th, we go to Canberra to meet with our politicians to discuss issues which are important to us.  We run workshops on 'advocacy and lobbying skills', on getting our message across.

Farmer Organisation.  One of the main barriers to women's full participation in our farmer's organisations was the voting rules.  These rules limited voting to one vote to each farming enterprise.  Where there was a family farm it was traditionally the male farmer who voted.  Women were not involved, they didn't vote, their opinions were not listened to.  Following our advocacy,  most of our farmer organisations now have a system of multiple votes allowing for  women and also interested children to participate in a more democratic way.  This has bought new enthusiasm and new ideas to our farmer organisations.  Our national organisation has set itself a target of 30% of leading positions to be held by women by 2005.

In closing:  A most sincere thanks to our hosts who have looked after us during our visit to Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary and Meath.  We have enjoyed your hospitality, you food, your company, your sense of humour.  You have opened your homes and hearts to us. Thank you.

Invitation to Australia:  We would like to repay your hospitality.  We would love for you to visit Australia - can I suggest World Rural Women's Day in Australia in 2004 ?

The 4th International Conference of Women in Agriculture is planned to take place in Africa in 2006.  It would be wonderful to join with you at that meeting. Perhaps even to dream of having  the 5th International Conference, after Africa, here in Ireland in 2008.

 Finally my request is that you encourage and support each other to bloom where you are planted.  There are over 550 of us here today at Croke Park.  Imagine the impact we could have if each of us "put our hand out to another - as a greeting, as a welcome, and as an invitation."  That indeed would enable us to move "Fast Forward."

 Collaboration for a Transformed World

 I.         Introduction

Honourable guests, Sisters of RSCJ, organizers. The purpose of my talk is to set the scene for the work of this gathering which is the beginning of the Australian Study Plan.  This will then lead to the World Congress of World Association of Alumni and Alumnae of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans in 2006.

The theme is collaboration for a transformed world - and the hope is that we can do this (create a transformed world) by deepening our awareness of our own gifts, which will enable us to use them to their fullest.

As I understand it, my role today is to do 4 things.

•       To introduce and explain the theme,
•       To offer some practical suggestions about how "we" here today can go about doing using our gifts,
•       To share with you some of what I have learnt about building community, building collaboration and building partnerships and to share a little bit of my experience of transformation,
•       And to inspire us all to be agents of change - for the better within this community of alumnae

2. Structure of the Talk

So if that is my role, here how I thought I might approach the topic.

First: I'd like to know a little bit about us. About why we have come, what we expect and what success would look like.

Second: a bit about me and my experience of working for transformation - (lets use the word) change - in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Third: some of the lessons we have learnt along the way about building community, some strategies, practical things which work, and we have lots of research, knowledge and practical experience to draw upon for the study plan.

In conclusion: some thoughts on vision, voice, values and visibility - imagine if... creating a picture of what we could do if we all put our minds, hearts and energy into this.

3.         Building Connecting

Some questions to the audience - where have you come from? where did you go to school (Sac School); why have you come; One gift you received from your mother, one gift you got from school, what are  your expectations for this gathering?

4.         About me

Images on the power-point - family; image of Indigo Valley; rural women.

Gifts: I would like to talk about two important gifts I have been blessed with - family & the heritage which came with this family. One aspect of this heritage was a connection to Sacre Coeur.  Five of my sisters are "old girls"  ( 6 of us came to Sac) four of my aunts are 'very old girls" my dad is an 'old girl/boy".

Another gift is being able to live in rural Australia. And closely associated with this is a great gift of being able to make a career working with rural women.

Some other gifts I have been given are travel, and access to education. I love travel and particularly enjoy mixing work with travel which has happened with my participation in the World Trade Organisation meeting in Doha and Ireland.  Being a participant of the Australian Rural Leadership Program - whow - a great gift this one of confidence, access to the men's world, and a chance to reflect on  the impact I was having on others.

As my career got underway I was blessed with some great projects - not all of them paid: Australian Women in Agriculture - I learnt about being part of a women's group and women's ways of knowing and working together and learning how to manage this - by distance, from home, using email, phone.  My views changed, I changed and I learnt to listen, listen, listen and suspend judgment. I also learnt "if it was going to be it was up to me."

 The Success Factors - for 3 years I chaired a national committee for John Anderson (The Deputy Prime Minister). I learnt about the power of the dinner party in getting and winning the ear of some of our pollies. He asked for some advice on the critical factors which helped communities manage change.  Our research project The Success Factors also bought some important lessons.  What are the critical factors for managing change ?  Women said "its about belonging" - when you feel that you belong - there is a sense of connectedness - then - you are able to volunteer, you are able to give your time, and then the change comes. Of course, they told us,  "the opposite happens too - if you don't belong, you won't / can't contribute and the connections are not made, nothing happens in fact something does happen, the community goes backwards."

Being part of the WTO advisory committee - that was a great gift in the most unexpected way. The overseas is so attractive and seems to be the place of most need, I was attracted to helping 'others' in need - of doing good, and I learnt that it's about here - about working within my own community where I have the connections, where I know the culture, the language, where I am know that I have real power for change. Not to say that overseas work is not important, rather that for me, the gift was to see that thinking globally and acting locally was the key. I learnt to work within my sphere of influence.

5.          What we/I have learnt along the way about change/about building community- 10 minutes  

Practical things that work.. Visibility, values, vision, voices,

Australian women in agriculture - I was in my late 20s when I discovered I had soil/dirt running in my veins.  When I bought my farm I then set about learning from women about ways of lifting sheep, working with animals and fencing. It didn't talk long for women to connect and in 1993 established the national organization Australian Women in Agriculture.  I moved through the ranks of  inaugural secretary, newsletter coordinator to vice and then president. 

In these early days, women were invisible in agriculture and we needed to become visible.  We knew that economics was a very important part of that visibility - so we did the research, got the statistics and used them. Our work is important. It matters.  Women in agriculture matter.

Stats on women in ag:

"Adding together the value of farm women's on-farm contribution, their off-farm wage income and the value of household, volunteer and community work, women contribute 48% of total real farm income.

This contribution was worth almost $14 billion in 1995 - 96.  $4 billion in on-farm work, $1 billion in off-farm work, over $8 billion in household work and almost mce_marker.5 billion in volunteer and community work."

Source: Missed Opportunities report 1998 Jennifer Gordon Vol 2

We also needed to find our voices.  This involved getting together in small groups. Talking to each other and listening and hearing.  Knowing that our experiences were our reality - that often our reality was different to that of men's.  We needed to be able to articulate this - clearly.  It took and takes practice to do this.

Now AWiA is a connected and web based organization.(www.awia.org.au)  Many of us live in isolate areas of Australia and are not able to get together for meetings on a regular basis. We communicate and work very effectively and efficiently by email and phone.

The Success Factors - The main lesson from the project is the value of belonging.  How easy it is to create this feeling where there is a will.  How hard it can be where there is difference and lack of trust. The value of a gift of time - time to talk to neighbours, to offer a hand, to organize a local activity, time to build community - the gift of being able to say that community building is value- able work. The gift of acknowledging all the people who do community building  - and saying thanks regularly and often. 

And from the WTO experience: I came to appreciate that this organization,  based on competition and competitive advantage - may not be the best way to structure a world - it plays to our basest instincts.  It implies a winner and losers.  (I am all for trade - but not at any cost)

That if this system has its way and our globalised economy eventuates - then the negative consequences will be obvious and clear - that if capital moves, labour moves to find the jobs -people move - and  - we have refugees - seems to me that our current situation with refugees and immigration is a direct and knowing consequence of our trade policy and our foreign policy and our values. We want cheap food, cheap clothes, low cost tourism - then labour moves.  I suspect I have very little chance of changing the values which underpin the WTO, so I decided to work within my sphere of power & influence  - rather than my sphere of concern.

6. So what does all this mean for the study plan. 

6.1 We all share an experience of Sacre Coeur and I suspect for many of us it was transformative.

My experience of Sacre Coeur: the process transformed me and "marked" me.

Teachers such as Mrs Waziac (Maths) , Madame   Screeney  (French), Frau Huppert (German) and visits by international speakers- helped make me a citizen of the world,

Teachers such as Mrs McCarthy (History) , Mrs Quey (sport) Mrs Nolan (Eng lit) made me a feminist - the world was our oyster.

The experience of boarding, moving from a loving  & fun loving family to the cold and drafty dormitories of Sacre Coer woke in me empathy for others - especially new boarders and compassion for the underdog - the unsophicated rural kids who had no idea about urban life - as Mother Authur once said of me 'an unpolished diamond" - Sac certainly began the process of transformation of polishing and it was painful.

It also introduced me to the joy of community theatre - ironically often linked to religion - of participation in events such as the - liturgy, procession of the lanterns, and the excitement and fun of The Call.

I think it was at "Sac" that I got my first real experience of leadership - being a blue ribbon, captain of Digby, president of a table and the perks of a prefect's room.

And of course, being so far away from home, embedded my love of the country - coming home in summer - the smells of fresh hay and the joy of reconnecting with my sisters and brothers. Interestingly I now live in close proximity to some of my extended family and enjoy playing the role of aunt, sister and daughter to my father.

Probably the most useful gift of all was access to University, and entry to Monash in the very early 1970's. Where I promptly failed my first year - and all those earlier lessons of being an underdog were reinforced as I got factory work and came face to face with poverty and working class Australia. I studied economics and history.

By my mid 30's, the themes were well established-education, community, participation, rural, citizen of the world, and of course we did it with others in partnership.

6.2 - The goals of Sacre Coeur

In preparation for this talk I went to the Sacre Coeur web site and found the following goals and was really surprised to see how many of these are now part of my work.  I asked Liz Vinning Chair of the Board about the school today - and how it was in our day and she said that then it was the nuns who embodied these goals, now its much more transparent - and its the work of the school - to actively do this - its their study plan.  Maybe there are lessons for us in this.

On Power-point

Goal 1 - Faith Which is Relevant in Today's World

Goal 2 - A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values

Goal 3 - Building Community as a Christian Value

Goal 4 - A Social Awareness that Impels to Action

Goal 5 - Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom

Two of the goals and criteria stand out. Perhaps, as Liz said, we absorbed these values subliminally - however it happened, these goals are part of my feelings about my life.

Goal 2 - A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values

Serious study and a love of learning are encouraged.

Program development is based on research and evaluation.

Teaching/learning styles promote the development of persons who are knowledgeable, questioning, thoughtful and integrated.

Opportunities are provided for experiential education which includes the element of reflection.

The curriculum encourages the development of aesthetic values and the creative use of the imagination.

Goal 4.A Social Awareness that Impels to Action

The school awakens a critical sense which leads to reflection on our society and its values.

The curriculum includes study of the problems of the world community.

The school provides the knowledge and skills needed for effective action on the problems of oppression and injustice.

The school has programs which enable students to become actively involved in the wider community.

7. To the Study Plan. Collaboration for transformation

In 1805, Madeleine Sophie Baret drafted her first plan of study - this year is the bicentennial of that event. (May 25^th her feast) Numerous revisions were undertaken but always the same emphasis. There were four main elements

*        serious study

*        educating to a social responsibility

*        laying the foundation of a strong faith

*        concern for the total development of each student

This gathering is about us preparing our own study plan. 

What can we do?

What do we want to do?

What do we have in common?

What will motivate us - to begin, to come together again,

What resources do we need?

What would success look like?

What works ?

From my experience I would suggest that Values, Visibility, Vision and Voice - are important parts of the plan.

Communities work - lets make communities visible and give them voice.  Let's work in communities - let's collaborate with others.

Belonging matters - it's an important value - it's not about the "what" we do, so much as the "how" we do it.

Act within our sphere of Influence/concern/power - work from our strengths (concern, influence, power) work where we have voice.

We can make it up as we go along.  We can learn our way into the future.

Some one famous once said that the future it is not a destination... "The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.  The paths to it are not found, but made, and the making of those pathways changes both the maker and the destination."

There must be fun,

8. In conclusion

Today is about creating our plan of study.  We belong: We have in common our Sacre Coeur education; we share a type of faith - perhaps more accurately a type of hope for a better world; we have today - and tomorrow - time together - our shared experience. We have our gifts.

We have our lived experience, our knowledge of the world; our experience as women in the world and all its diversity, emotions, knowledge, relationships and resources.  We have our differences of age, race, interest, time, motivation, resources,  Lets believe we have enough in common and the belief that we could grow to be the embodiment of the dream of the Madeline Sophie  - feast on the 25th of May.

We need to believe there is room for everyone to bloom where they are planted - and the diversity and richness of a thriving garden.  It's a multicultural garden we are creating.

We need to put our hand out to others and invite them into our garden - where there is good water, shelter and nurturing.

More good has been launched by more people from kitchen tables than any other platform in the land.

We need to have the confidence that we can achieve - that we can work together and get positive, practical change.

We need to give voice to our experience - to our experience of being Australian, to being Christian.  To a faith which is relevant, for respect for intellectual values (rigor), for social awareness which impels to action and to personal growth.

I am told that Mark Twain's mother once gave this bit of wisdom. "The secret of success is getting started.  The secret of getting started is breaking the complex, over whelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then, starting on the smallest and easiest."

In bringing this talk to a conclusion, I'd like to share some of my vision, to explain why I accepted today's invitation and ask you to imagine if.....

When I completed the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) - our group committed themselves to a vision. "Where rural Australia was prosperous and caring, alive with opportunities for everyone" in short a transformed world.  We can't do it by ourselves.  It's about us all working in collaboration. It's about rural and urban working together and widening our spheres of power and influence.  My issues are around trade, refugees, sustainable food systems and managing change in rural areas. Using my gifts within a rural context.

And for us here today - our plan of study is an opportunity to think about our gifts and how we can use them.

Where we can let our lights shine brightly and be proud of our talents and gifts. Where the lives we live are heavenly.

And to finish with the words attributed to Nelson Mandela

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are born to manifest the glory of god that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our light shine,

We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mendela, 1994 Inaugural speech.

INTRODUCTION  

George Kerferd and the founders of Beechworth have left us a fine heritage. It has become the foundation of our community's wealth. Beechworth is a wonderful place to live work and visit.  We have much to be grateful for 154 years on, we have some important choices to make.

The aim of my talk is to motive us to be inspired by their work.  To ask us what is the inheritance we will pass on?  To share some ideas on how we can do our bit to create a prosperous, caring community, which is alive with opportunities for everyone and renowned for its harmony, its beauty, its innovation and its sense of social justice.

While this talk is about Beechworth.  It's also about the Indigo Shire. It's about NE Victoria and the Murray Valley.  It's about Australia.  It's about us and how we chose to live together.  It's about the future.  I believe it's about our common-wealth.

In coming to an understanding of my role I checked the dictionary to see what an oration is: and found  "Formal address of a ceremonial kind and the orator is an "eloquent public speaker."

In "Well May We Say.. Speeches that made Australia" Graham Freudenberg tells us an Oration is "fine words knitted together with care.  Words that interpret our times and say what we are thinking."  He suggests there are two essentials " a passion to persuade and a deep respect for the intelligence of the audience". I can assure that the words have been knitted together with great care.  I offer them to you with humility; I trust they will help in the process of understanding our times.

I see my role as to present a formal talk, An Oration.  It will share with you the journey begun - in one way - in April 2005 when the Major of the Indigo Shire made the request. But in another way and in a much more real sense it began in 1861 when my great, great, grand parents John Terrill and Elizabeth Brown from Co Cork Ireland were married in the C of E Church in Chiltern.

While George and Anne Kerferd were establishing their large family- in all Anne gave birth to 10 children, and beginning their community work up here in the hills, my relatives were doing their thing down on the plains. All part of the same shire and at that time the same parish - Beechworth.

The talk is in three parts. The introduction offers some definitions and outlines my motivation and connections with Beechworth.  The second section turns to the present and to share with you the process we have undertaking in preparing the talk: The Kerferd Conversations and what we have learnt over the past 7 months. I will conclude with some ideas opportunities for designing our future.

Having said what the talk is, I'd like to clarify what it is not.  Its not a planning blueprint about the future of subdivision and development. Though planning does get a mention.  And, it is not a critique of the Shire of Indigo's role in Beechworth's development, though I do believe that the Shire has a very important role to play. 

In setting the scene for the talk, there are 2 terms which I would like to introduce: The common and common wealth, and three motivations.

Wealth

There are lots of different ways we can judge our wealth.

We can be wealthy because we have lots of things: money, assets, and resources

We can be wealthy in terms of our environment,

We can be wealthy in our family and friendships,

We can be wealthy in our community having a sense of belonging, of being able to contribute and have a sense of connectedness,

We can be wealthy because we have the potential to earn money, to have a job or to be self-employed,

We can be wealthy because we have choices and opportunities - the freedom to choose and to reach our potential,

We can be wealthy because we feel safe and secure, we are free from persecution no bombs raining down on us. We can expect justice,

We can be wealthy because we have strong institutions: courts, schools, government systems, service clubs, museum, arts, public servants and a local news paper.

We are a community rich in common wealth when we have effective infrastructure, which brings us fresh clean water and effective transport systems.

In all these ways Beechworth is indeed a wealthy community.

The Common

The concept of the "common" comes from English during the feudal times. The common was freely available land used by the community to grow food, feed animals etc.  Where the common was rich fertile land, well looked after and productive, the community grew wealthy. These towns became the market towns, places of trade and industry, of training and wealth generation.  If the common was poor land - people went hungry.  The common represents the collective - the place for cooperation - for coming together - networking - sharing information and resources - for building community infrastructure, deciding on values and the culture of the community.  What is our common? What will generate our common - wealth in the future - I don't think it will be land.

The Motivation

With the initial invitation to do this talk I had misgivings. It would be a challenge.  I would be talking in my own community. I was humbled by the request and felt privileged too.  My decision to say 'yes' was inspired by three things:  A recent trip to the USA, my recollections of the struggle to form the Historic Towns now the Indigo Shire, and my affection for Beechworth.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Last year with some colleagues from the Australian Rural Leadership Program, I attended a conference in the USA. As part of the pre-conference activities we were taken to the HQ of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture - a most imposing building. Above the entrance were the words Department of Agriculture - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  I was surprised to see the word there - I'd never thought of the USA as being a commonwealth type country.

Some of you will know the story - in 1681 Charles 11 King of England gave William Penn a Charter to a very large grant of land.  The Charter gave Penn the power to sell land and establish a Frame of Government which was in effect a contract guaranteeing the settlers certain rights. Penn had been inspired by the period in English history where the monarch was over turned and Cromwell the Lord Protector established the Commonwealth.

And as I explored their Congress buildings, I too was inspired by the vision of those founders - a free society built on idealism and vision where Quakers and others who suffered religious persecution would find refuge.  It touched a cord in me.  What idealism.  What courage.  What a vision.  And 400 years on it thrives. What a wonderful word  "Common Wealth"

Historic Towns and Indigo Shire

As outlined in the introduction - my early professional career saw me working in Beechworth on a contract to the Shire.  My first job was to prepare a scheme for providing meals on wheels, home help and transport. It became the HACC program. I had other contracts including preparing a municipal health plan, a recreation plan which involved support for the High School Community recreation centre and background work for the 1988 study of Small Towns which included Beechworth.

However it was my involvement in the movement to create the Historic Towns Shire, which really bought me back in touch with the people of Beechworth.  I was inspired by the spirit, the grass roots 'want' for us to determine how to be governed and what we defined as our community. (Who were involved - remember the march down high St in Wodonga?). It was my first taste of the effectiveness of rural people power. It was fun. It was exciting.  We had such a dream.  In preparing this talk I wanted to revisit the dream.  Was our dream still relevant?

My final motivation was my affection for Beechworth.

Beechworth has always been a part of my life. My earliest memories are of Mum or Dad meeting the school bus when the big kids - my older sisters came home from school. And remembering the excitement and great anticipation when it was my turn. I did grow to dislike that hour-long bumpy dusty bus trip up the La Sarina and down the Rising Sun.

It seems the things which impressed me then are still impacting on residents of Beechworth.  I'd like to share some of these early impressions. These are the gifts Beechworth has given me.

The people. (photo of netball team)

I am using this image of our A grade basketball team in 1965 to capture the essence of the people of Beechworth.  Rosemary Steve, Barbara McHarg, Patience McCarthy, Brigitter Lehmayer, Pam Ryan, Paula Lemayer and Carol Hill. The family names: the McKenzie McHargs, the Fannings, Jessups, Goldworthys, Peter Fartishinski.

Wonderful exotic food and names of people from Europe escaping the second world war.  Lunch times exchanging vegemite sandwiches for sausage. I was envious of Michael Freeman who's mum owned a shop. Wishfully wanting to have my plaits wrapped gracefully around my head like Olga Denisinko.

The people - Mr. O'Malley who helped the nuns around the convent.  Mr. Meredith who ever so patiently, taught us dancing. Mrs. Edmunds who helped me over-come my lisp. And Mother Conleth - teacher of values, ethics and morals among other things.

Play, space, freedom: (Pic of The façade of the old hospital - known as the "Hossie Grounds")

Only those of us who went to St Joes can really know the job of playing, for hours at a time in the "old Hossie Grounds".  The grand old Monkey Puzzle trees under which we built magnificent cubbies. The cold - crisp winter days with the wind blowing in from Mt Buffalo.  The fear of hitting the soft ball 'out of bounds' and having to run down into the gorge, and up again.   Not hearing when the bell went and being late for class - delighting in our legitimate excuse. It was a totally stimulating environment. Did the state school have a similar space next to the prison?

Sense of the sacred (pic of a very old gnarled tree)

Fr Lane's history of Beechworth Parish tells us that Mass used to be said under this tree.  It was old in the 1850's.  It still is a landmark and I understand many significant meetings took place here.   This image captures another gift, which Beechworth has given me - not only my introduction to religion, its more the sense of the sacred, the role of the spiritual in my life and the connection between god and nature. Land and soul.  Country and self. I love old trees.

Indigenous Australia (Pic of a sign to Yeddonba caves)

At school we were introduced to stories of the aboriginal people and how they lived.  Exploring the cave art at Mt Pilot and learning about visits to the high country to catch bogong moths. I think we were envious of such a life; certainly we wanted to know more. We were told that there are other stories and we have responsibilities beyond our own time.  Mt Pilot is a magical place for me and the view over the Murray valley with the blanket of trees continues to inspires me

Water and environment (Pic of water and the indigo falls)

This was our almost favorite summer picnic and swimming place.  Such memories of fresh, clear, cold water gushing over our bodies, cooling us down. We were farm kids.  We knew about muddy water in dams and stored water in tanks.  This was different.  We experienced the precious nature of fresh mountain water, flowing water.  Available water. Free water.

Historic buildings & gardens (pic of old house at Mayday Hills)

Once a year we would have interschool sports and make the long walk to the 'Asylum'.  I remember one visit to watch my brother play footy on the cricket pitch, feeling terrified that we/I would get left behind.  Mayday Hills, the lunatic asylum, La Trobe this place - it has so much symbolism. The care, love and service given here. The beauty of the gardens. Grand buildings.  The connection with Kerferd and sense of history. Transformations.   Wonderful summer concerts catching the sunsets, and galahs singing.  Conferences.  And now today.

So with all that inspiration, it was a warm "yes" and the Kerferd committee was great supporters.  Here I would like to acknowledge the committee Di Thomas, Peter Graham, Brian Millar, Vic Issell and Joan Simms.  Joan has been my partner in this project- I would like to acknowledge her wisdom, skills and generosity. She has been a real partner and friend to me. 

The Kerferd Conversations.

Our aim and process.

We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to get together and talk about things, which were important to them and to the future of Beechworth.

We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to meet each other - for newcomers such as Joan and John to meet locals like me.

We wanted to involve people in the idea of Kerferd and in understanding the history of Beechworth.

We wanted to build community.  To have fun.  We wanted to not make it too hard.  To not be over burdened by 'should's and oughts'.

We wanted it to be community driven and voluntary. No one was paid.

Good food has always played a part in my experience of living in North East Victoria.  My dad had been a councilor in the old Chiltern Shire. I recall him hosting many an informal (delicious) meal as we chatted, discussed, argued about the future. And Beechworth is famous for its fresh produce and its great restaurants.

So Joan and I thought - why not - lets give it a go. Let's invite people to join us for a meal.

Who to invite? - A diverse group of people who valued community.

We drew up a list.  New comers and locals, young and others not so young, leaders with formal roles and responsibilities and community leaders, activitists and citizens of the year. 

And Joan hit the phones. Would they come?  Everyone we asked accepted the invitation!

We made a budget. We checked with the sponsors and Brian agreed that we could host the meals at La Trobe.  We looked at our diaries -and got underway in late January of this year

Over 2 months we held 5 dinners of 8 and one combined meal of 30plus.

We talked about why we were living in Beechworth.  What was Beechworth's gift to us?  We talked about the issues we faced. We talked about Beechworth's common wealth and we asked about the future?

We asked the participants - the conversationalists - to talk to their friends about these topics. To invite friends, neighbours and newcomers to 'drop over for a bite to eat" And they did. Over 70 people participated.

Kerferd Community Conversations

We also wanted to invite the wider community to be part of preparing for this event today - to create a community conversation.  We worked with Megan at the Shire to get articles in the local paper. We spoke to school groups.  To young people around town. To the junior council. To Service clubs, to artists and members of the arts council, to students at La Trobe. We spoke to the Council and council staff.

We read reports and history books. We listened, listened and listened.

We asked people: what is Beechworth's gift to you?  What do you value about living here? What are the issues for Beechworth? What do you hope for the future?

We were inspired by what we heard.  We were excited and encouraged.

Report of the Conversations

Once the Kerferd conversations got underway it became obvious there was a widely shared sense that Beechworth is a special place -that it is held in high regard.  It wasn't just my experience.  Beechworth has been the bearer of many gifts, to many people.

Gifts of B'worth  "An arty, crafty, foody, winery, sort of a place" 

There were so many gifts; I have prepared a full appendix.   Here's a taste.

• Strong sense of community
• Shopping and service
• All the different sorts of visitors
• The people
• Arts
• Environment
• Community leadership
• History, heritage and traditions
• Buildings
• Trees
• Climate
• My wife, a job, a family, our lifestyle
• No pokies
• No traffic lights
• No crime, security
• The clean clear fresh water
• Tolerance of difference
• Ability to care
• Meeting people up the street
• Festivals, Opera in the alps

Issues

There were issues too, which caused people concern - many issues. Again there is a full list in the appendix. For this talk I have summarise 5 of the major concerns.

Planning is a big one. Discussion about rights - individuals versus community; about decision-making powers - state versus local government; about management of growth and rate revenue; about community input into decision making. People could see that planning is important.  But they wanted to know whose purpose was being achieved, who is benefiting?  They understood that planning was for a purpose. They questioned who checks that the goals and targets of the plan are being achieved.  There was lots of anxt.

Communication and how it happens was another popular topic. Processes to engage people in communication were well discussed. The various roles and responsibilities of a community newspaper; of the Shire; of groups; of neighbours to share information; How to communicate with other communities in the shire and neighbouring shires was also an issue.

How to find out what is going on - I learnt there are two critical meeting places - the bakery at 6am and the Post Office at 9am.  I am also informed that the staff rooms at the hospital and at the schools (and I suspect play grounds) are buzzing with news.

Community Engagement: This picture of the "No Pokies" banner captures a number of issues - the strength of the community power within Beechworth and the power of the community to govern its own future; the relationship between the Beechworth community and the Indigo Shire; the role of the community in festivals - the famous meeting about the Golden Horse Shoe Festival took place during this period. It also captures for me the need to care for those who are not as well off and the need to work to including them, and most particularly the young people "in".

Services and infrastructure were often raised.  This image of the Post Office captures more than just the potential closure of the PO, it is also the issues of living in an historic town; about the protection of the icons of the town, the historic buildings - including the goal, While these buildings are privately owned, in a complicated way, they are viewed as part of the public's common wealth.  There's a sense of community responsibility about them - concern for example when the grass around the goal went un cut - who's responsible?  People were keen to be part of the public conversation about these buildings.

Protecting, preserving and maintaining the environment was another well-discussed topic.  Development meant that some long held 'sacred sites' were being threatened, views might be lost, roads built.  While it was acknowledged that lots has been done to reserve and protect the heritage - the parks, the prescient, the rotary walk, and the Chinese garden there was a real fear that development would win out over the environment.

Kerferd Projects

Very early in the process, we could see there was energy and interest for people to 'do something'.  There were a number of issues we felt we could do something about. "Well let's give it a go.  Lets see what we can achieve."   We formed what became known as the Kerferd project working groups. The 'team leaders' for lack of a better name are all here and if you are interested I encourage you to connect with them over lunch.

The O and M Advertiser working group - training at the BNC: Gabrielle and Andrea,

The Beechworth Community Forum working group: Noelene Allen

The multi functional landscapes working group: Digby Race

The Beechworth Charter working group: Bernard Bolan

A sense of the whole shire -1/15 Indigo shire-working group; Frances Walsh

I will return to these projects and working groups a bit later.

What else did we learn about Beechworth? 

Research gave us information about the population, about employment trends, about changes in voting patterns and crime statistics.

Let's see what the statistics show us: The population has been on a slow decline.  Need for careful in interpretation because of the impact of deinstitutionalism.) For example in 1980 Mayday had 350 patients and employed 650 staff with a budget of $26 million.

It is interesting and relevant to building community to see that aprox 50% of residents lived at the same address 5 years ago. That means the rest most likely are newcomers.

BEECHWORTH Population

1981             1986             1991             1996             2001 

Total population                                                             3,154             3,252             3,136            2,953             2,791

Visitors on census night                                                    255                340                192                 282                147

Population in non-private dwellings                                       885                874                633                 494                390

Popn living at same address 5 years  ago                         1,734             1,586             1,571             1,492             1,462

Proportion of LGA's population (%)                                         28.2               26.8     23.3               21.6        20

Source: Towns in Time, 2001

 (The census next weekend)

EMPLOYMENT Statistics

It is interesting to see that the highest employment is (not unexpectedly) in the health and community services 24.8%. Retail trades are second with 14%, followed by Manufacturing with 10.4%.  Education with 9.7% is forth and fifth highest is accommodation, cafe and restaurants with 8.9% of the workforce working in this area. 

Employment by Industry                                 1981    1986    1991    1996    2001 

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing                        62            33            30            35            51

Mining                                                                           3                           3

Manufacturing                                                             50            53            63            71      121

Electricity, Gas and Water Supply                           3               3              3             19               7

Construction                                                             40             53             33             40             58

Wholesale Trade                                                   8             12             19             25             20

Retail Trade                                                             81             90       103       162       164

Accommodation, Cafes, Restaurants                        52            57            74            85       104

Transport and Storage                                                 17            18            13            42            28

Communication                                                 17             22             15             19             14

Finance and Insurance                                                 17             20             25             19               7

Property and Business Services                                     17             21             36             36             56

Government Admin & Defense                                    49            72            68            53            59

Education                                                             65            68            80            83      113

Health and Community Services                        518       494       479       261      288

Cultural and Recreational Services                         10            9             20             22             24

Personal and Other Services                                     38            45             40             57             45

Total                                                                     1,044    1,073    1,101   1,032     1,159

VOTING Patterns

Note the swing between Labour and Liberals making Beechworth a swinging booth.

                        1972            1980            1990            1996            2001            2004

ALP                         879            850            601            802            634            643

Libs                        -            487            687            901            488            906

Nats                        954            172            -            -            198            -

DLP                        173            -            -            -            -            -

Greens            -            -            -            -            -            252

Total                        2121            2636            1887            1958            1989            1924

CRIME in Beechworth - July 05 - July 06

                                               

Source: Beechworth Police Station July 06

Comment on crime in Beechworth: The local police officer tells me

"Over the last year there has been some success with a drop in assaults around the town which is a direct result of a 'hotel reform', where the publicans have joined forces with the police to eliminate bad behavior in and around the hotels.   "Any person that is banned from any hotel in the town for bad behavior is subsequently banned by the other hotels, usually for a period of 3 months.   

"We are currently suffering a number of damages around the town that are likely to be fuelled by alcohol and drugs.  There is obvious anger involved and it would appear that it is aimed at society in general.   We are also finding it extremely difficult to combat the drug problem. "We would dearly love to get assistance from any quarter to help us identify and combat the drug use situation amongst our young people.                                                                                                  

"The number of domestic disputes and burglaries (break ins) that we attend are low and it is not a major issue at the moment.

What we have learnt:

It has been a great experience: I think I can speak for all the conversationalists when I say this.

Coming together to talk about "real" issues was good fun

People enjoyed getting to know each other

We generated lots of energy

People wanted to do things

We also learnt that thinking about the future is difficult.  It was the most challenging aspect of the conversations.  It is difficult to imagine the future when we are so caught up in the issues of the present.

Joan and I have been amazed and delighted by the interest and enthusiasm and willingness to be part of all this.  It was fun.  It is possible. It was voluntary.  It was 'us'. It was about how we wanted to live and be. There were no shoulds.  We didn't get into trouble (we couldn't because it was 'ours') We didn't have to write a report and there's no timeline.  We found that our community is full of leaders working in so many ways on so many different projects. We were pleased that the Kerferd Oration had provided the opportunity.

What does all this information mean for us in Beechworth?

In 2000 the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services undertook a research project about community development. Called The Success Factors, the report documents what's needed for communities to successfully manage change. In summary, the major critical factor for communities to successfully manage change, is how people feel. The theory tells us that communities with a strong sense of belonging and connectedness will manage change well.

When people feel good, feel welcomed, feel they belong, feel they matter; they are prepared to become involved.  To give of their time.  To share their knowledge skills and experience.  They volunteer. 

They go out of their way to help, to give, to care.  And amazing things happen. "More' is created rather than less. Not like the financial market where there is a scarcity of resources - exactly the opposite happens. We move into abundance.

Where there are strong active involved and caring communities there is enough for everyone. Communities become good places to be.  People want to live there.  There is fun and laughter. There is growth and economic development.  There is art and music and theatre.  There are community celebrations. There is innovation.  And it's as simple and as hard as 'belonging'

Of course the opposite happens.  Where there is no belonging, people don't feel welcomed. They are reluctant to volunteer to give of their time. These become unattractive places to be.

Our ancestors knew this. Kerferd knew this.  My grand parents knew this.  Your ancestors knew this too.  It is what makes Australia and especially rural Australia such a great place to live.

This Kerferd project has shown that in Beechworth most people feel they belong.  However there are a few exceptions: some of the young people feel out of it, some newcomers find it hard to fit in, some long-term residents are feeling left out and for some, there is a sense of loss and grief that the old world is passing.  There is a small group of people who just don't have the confidence or skills to take that first step to become involved.

We need to continue to work at building a caring community.

We need to continue to work at communicating with each other.

We need to continue to think globally and act locally. We live in a global village.  Our visitors come from all over the world.  Many people in Beechworth have lived and worked in other countries and our children already are citizens of the world.

We need to be better at being inclusive.

We need to make sure there are opportunities for everyone to be included 'in' to be educated and to find work.  In this context I place particular emphasis on our young people - their request for a BMX track, for opportunities for them to be included 'in' the discussion.

There is a second important thing we learnt about building long-term sustainable communities.

It's about community leadership.

During this project we experienced many many examples of modern, sophicated, effective community leadership in Beechworth.

For the sake of this talk there are 2 examples of community leadership, which I would like to draw particular attention to.   I know I am doing a disservice to the many others I could mention (the Beechworth Investment Group - BIG and their work with the gym; The bike riders group and their work with young people; the people behind the rail trail; the Montessori school group; the young people working for the BMX track, La Trobe, the Main Street Traders; Festival organizers, Service Clubs, B&B proprietors; The Beechworth Community Welfare Committee.) There are obviously many more - too many to name.  We can see their results everywhere - everywhere someone has said, "Well I suppose if it's going to be, it's going to be me"

I'd like to focus on two examples where a sense of community has successfully created great local common wealth.

Lucas Mills - Tess and Geoff and the Lucas family. Based in Wooragee they employ 30 full time staff, the mill was established in 1994.  It's a family business with the parents and 2 children and partners running the company.  They make mills to cut-up saw logs. They export to over 80 countries.  Jenny tells me she that one of the things she is most proud of is that people use their mills to create their own small businesses.  One customer paid $8,000 for a mill and over a period of time it has grossed $160,000.  One of their biggest customers is the Solomon Island.   They give and they give and they give.  And they belong and they create belonging. They create great common wealth for us.

A second example is the work of Christine and Tom O'Toole.  The bakery.  "Making dough their way" You know the figures.  Annual turn over of $3m, 670,000 customers in one year, 65 staff  Tom gave Australia this quote " What if I train my people and they leave.  What if I don't train them and they stay?"  And they give and they give and they give. And they belong and they create belonging.  They create great common wealth for all of us.

Both these examples of community leadership - show us how to do it.  How to do it locally.  They clearly show how community building creates economic wealth.  They are great models for us.  They are local people.  Christine O'Toole and Geoff Lucas went to school here.  They are home grown businesses.  We know the people.  We know they are legitimate and genuine.  They are generous and I am sure if asked, would teach us what they know.

And to the Future

Before I get too far into this part of my talk, I'd like to share a story from the past.  About Capability Brown.  He was a garden designer in England in the 16 and 1700's.  If any of you have been on a tour of the stately gardens of England then you would have seen and probably experienced his work.  What fascinates me about him, is that he deliberately designed his gardens to be at their peak in 400 years. Which is just about now.

I am told that he planted the oak trees, for example, in very thick clumps so that as the competed for sunlight they would grow tall and straight. The instructions given with the garden was that after a period, lets say 50 years; every 4^th tree was to be thinned out, after 75 years every second tree.  So that eventually we have the park like gardens we see to day.  He was also multi-functional in his approach. He designed independent watering systems for each garden; usually these were based on large ornamental lakes, which could be viewed from the main house.  The lakes acted as wetlands and attracted the birds which both added to the beauty of the gardens and also kept the insects in control.

If we think back to the time of George and Anne Kerferd and my great great grand parents, when we see the buildings here at La Trobe, when we see the trees in these gardens, 150 years doesn't seem to hard to imagine.  And when I think of the gardens in England, or when I visit Florence, or Beijing or the Taj in India, I get the tiniest feeling that for us it might be possible, that just maybe we could create something that would be that special and last that long. 

But it is a scary thought. It takes courage to think that big.

I'd like to take some courage, to quell my fears, my sense of doubt and for a short time in the safety of this hall and audience to imagine if....

To imagine a possible future for Beechworth and for the Indigo Shire where the common wealth experienced by a future community is even greater than what we have inherited from the founding families of 150 years ago.

Don Chambers when he was mayor included this quote in the Indigo Informer.

"The future is not some place we are going to but one we are creating

The paths to it are not found, but made.

And the making of those pathways changes both the maker and the destination"

I take this quote to mean that in designing the future both what we do and how we do it matters.                                                                                   

While we know many things will be really different - fashion for example - there will be much that is the same.  Let's assume that there will be at least two constant elements we could work with: The land and the people.

What do I see?

I see landscapes, treed, maintained, unique and managed to cater for a wide diversity of people and activities.  I see beautiful buildings nestled into the environment.

I see that the research carried out by the Kerferd Multifunctional Landscapes working group has paid great dividends.  All our planning systems are multi functional.   The component parts work together to achieve outcomes for the people, and for the land, for the animals, for the air, and for the forests.  We have integrated landscapes where the sum of the parts is much greater than each individual part.

I see beautiful trees in grand eucalyptus forests.  I see clean water, which is safe for drinking and fresh pure air, blue skies, and views from hilltops; the magic mix of autumn colors with the grey green of the native trees.

I see that we have retained the beauty of the farming landscape surrounding the towns. New houses are screened using locally native plants that blend into the landscape and limit the visual impact of modern 'townhouses'. Bike paths and walking tracks connect all the small rural communities.

I see a Shire which values its home-grown goods and services, especially its food and arts. Most popular are the regular farmers' markets which specialize in the nutritional and health benefits of natural foods.

I see that we truly value our children.  We nurture in them an excellent grasp of local knowledge. Works of art including story books, theatre, sculptures, and moving images portray the history of their land.  All the children are familiar with the names and attributes of local native plants, native birds and animals.

I see people belonging.  People being welcomed into the community, invited to join and participate.  When they are ready to leave they are acknowledged and thanked.  They are invited to stay in touch.  To become part of the Beechworth extended family and donate money to the foundation.  They subscribe to the newspaper and keep in touch with local activities.

I see honour boards and public recognition for people who build community, for the carers, the volunteers and for those who hold true to the communities' vision and values.

I see the Visitor's Information Center renamed as the Community Information Centre and visitors are regarded as integral parts of our community.

There is extensive information flow and community engagement.  There are lots of ways of finding out, of being involved in the diversity of debate, discussion and activities, which are taking place. The Shire is renowned for its relationship with its neighbours, for its innovation in community engagement and participation, for its civic pride.

We have become deliberate in our creation of common wealth.  We have become skilled builders of community. We have learnt how to really include people in all their diversity, so that everyone feels able to share their gifts. We have renamed the Shire and it's now The Commonwealth of Indigo.

Listening to me, you might think its very similar to how things are now - perhaps - but the difference would be that this future has been created with intention, with design and with clarity about the purpose. The "how" it is done would be what matters.

And how do we do it?  During the conversations we talked about how we might go about this magical undertaking.   In bringing this talk towards its conclusion, I would seek your indulgence for just a few minutes while I share with you some of our ideas.

I have summarized it down to 6 steps.

1.            A vision - beginning with the end in mind

2.            Clear principles for the design - a charter, a map

3.            Solid foundations, on going resourcing and maintenance

4.            Method for on going communication to keep the vision alive

             And processes for checking, implementing, reviewing

6.            A process for developing community leadership and trust to enable the people to have the resources and commitment to follow the plan,

.           

The Vision

The vision of Indigo Shire as outlined in the strategic plan has some great words "A united prosperous and admired community enriching our environment, heritage and rural lifestyle.  A great place to live, work and visit."  I'd be happy with this.

A Charter

As part of the conversations Bernard has begun some thinking about this. A set of words and key principles and a process which the community would agree to abide by in the development of the future of Beechworth. 

Preserving the Solid Foundations

The physical buildings and landscape foundations already exist; we would need to ensure they remain strong and there is ongoing maintenance and resourcing.

During the time of the conversations the idea of a Beechworth Heritage Trust was floated. Tammy - economic development office with the Shire is working on this. A Philanthropic Trust, to which people make donations, perhaps a gold coin from each visitor. The money would be invested and the interest used to do what is needed.  The Yackandandah Community Development Company has some great experience in this concept. (Only 4 years old and last year it had a total gross income of $2,304,749 an increase of 34.8% over the previous year and it donated $17,717 to community projects.)

There has also been some interesting work around young people and foundations. I'd be very keen to see the young people of Beechworth actively included in this process and special scholarships made available for them.

There is a role for our education providers - La Trobe, TAFE, and schools to be part of this process.  The proposal was discussed that Beechworth become an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence in learning the arts of restoration and maintenance and particularly in the trades of stone masonry and restoration. There would also be opportunities to explore other skills of which Beechworth has high reputation; for example art of building and maintaining community; B&B hospitality; the arts of caring and our art art.

Communication

Effective forms of communication are essential.  Ideally a local community newspaper would fill this function.  Hopefully it would be the O &M Advertiser playing a key role. Gabrielle and Andrea have begun work on this.  They are planning to run classes at the BNC on ways to increase the use of the newspaper by community groups.

Some sort of Beechworth community forum is also needed.  A regular meeting place for the groups within the community to gather, share information and act as a sounding board for all levels of government. This forum could also provide a process for passing the vision on.  For checking its relevance and regular review and change. Noelene Allen - after next weekend - she is coordinating the Kelly program - has expressed interest in getting something happening along the lines of a Beechworth Community forum.

Linked to the need for a Beechworth forum is that of a Shire wide forum. An event where all the communities and groups within the Shire could gather to share information and ideas.  Once a year a facilitated process which would bring together elements of a conference, a workshop, a market place, a community consultation and a celebration. This process, known as Our Indigo Day, could be especially relevant for projects such as the current review of the Municipal Strategy Statement (MSS) and building the Indigo Shire strategic plan.

Importantly these forums would need to build close relationships with our neighbouring municipalities.  We could learn so much from Wodonga, Wangaratta, Alpine, Towong and Moira.  There is enormous potential for cooperation, learning and partnerships.

Community Leadership

Underpinning all these strategies is strong, skilled community leadership. Our experience with the conversations shows there is interest in a more formal approach to building and supporting community leaders through the provision of an Indigo Shire Community Leadership program.  Such a program could build on the work of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program and be targeted at those who are already playing key roles in our community - the secretary, treasurers, presidents - and support them in this work.

One of the responsibilities of these community leaders would be measuring and reporting to the community on progress against the plan. This is where the concept of Gross Domestic Happiness would really come into its own.

It may be a grand vision, but I don't think it is too unrealistic.  My experience with the Kerferd conversations has clearly demonstrated there is the interest. With the exception of the leadership program, there are minimal costs. We have the skills in our community.  We have the resources.  We have the people.  We have the motivation.  And I believe we have the vision. 

In closing:  There is a story told that Napoleon was sending his soldiers to invade Russia.  It was summer, very hot and there was no shade.  Neapolitan ordered his soldiers to plant some trees.  "But they will take 100 years to grow" the soldiers complained.  "Well then we had better hurry" Napoleon is quoted as saying "there is clearly not a moment to lose."

400 years or150 years, whichever time frame we choose, there is not a moment to lose: 

To join us in a celebration of our common wealth - our community, our heritage, our future, we invite you to join us for lunch. To make a beginning.

As we did during all the Kerferd meals we ask that you turn to your neighbour and say Hello and answer/ask the question  'What is Beechworth's gift to you?" 

And afterwards you may like to think about becoming involved in one of the projects, or create your own.  You may like to think about organizing a neighbourly BBQ.  Or having conversations which start with.... imagine if...