In this episode, we’re going to take stock of some of the key challenges all Community Leaders face, and some of the unique ways rural Community Leaders respond to them.

It’s about Filling the Gaps, and embracing the spirit of doing the best you can with what you have.

“One thing that the Council have done recently that is really good is sharing information and that has actually been amazing and also through different programs where organization gets to meet each other and network. Everyone's so busy, everyone works so hard, so it's hard to actually get together and organize things. But if there's an organization that organize stuff, it's amazing.” — Anna Lindstrand.

You’ll meet three local Community Leaders: Anna Lindstrand from Potoroo Palace, Jacqui Filby who works with Police citizens Youth Clubs NSW, and Angela George from the Eden Killer Whale Museum.

Anna, Jacqui and Angela outline short-term responses but also, at times, the need to look at the bigger picture. They detail the different types of organisational and community trouble-shooting they encounter, and how they grow, learn, harness the wisdom of others, and in the process build community and strengthen people's individual skills.

Anna, Jacqui and Angela reflect on Leadership, what that word means to them; what leadership means to people in rural and regional areas; and of what community leadership in regional places like the Bega Valley can teach us all, no matter where we live, about community leadership as a whole.

Series links:

Bega Valley Shire Council

Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

Investing in Rural Community Futures Program

Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

 Interviewees:

Ep 1:

Eden Visitor Centre

Palliative Care Australia

Bega Valley Business Forum

Ep 2:

Eden Killer Whale Museum

Potoroo Palace

Police Citizens and Youth Club (Far South Coast)

Ep 3:

Eden Community Access Centre

Kate Liston-Mills (author and community advocate)

Cobargo Community Access Centre (closed), redirect to Cobargo Community Development Corporation Limited

Ep 4:

Cobargo & District Energy Transition (Renewable Cobargo)

Grow the Future (Bega)

IRCF Program South Coast (FRRR)

Quality Matters Consulting

 Episode Image by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash