Executive coach Stephen Shepherd of AltusQ has extensive experience working with co-operatives and mutuals.

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Episode Notes:

In this conversation with rural journalist Michael Cavanagh, hear how how the co-operative difference informs and strengthens the business strategy of the co-ops and mutuals Stephen Shepherd of AltusQ works with. When co-ops fully embrace their history and purpose, a clear and workable strategy emerges; by harnessing the power of co-operation, co-ops and mutuals create a win-win situation for their organisation and their communities.

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The Terang Co-op is the retail heart of the small town of Terang and the lifeblood of the community, providing jobs, a sense of ownership and opportunities for local producers.

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Talking to journalist Michael Cavanagh, Kevin Ford reflects on the co-op ahead of his retirement as CEO, explaining how the co-operative difference informs every decision at Terang Co-op, from daily work to the long-term vision of the organisation.

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 Western Australia is known for many things – its stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches, the WACA and its much-loved AFL teams. But it’s also home to Australia’s largest fishery, Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative, which is a full-service operation taking its members’ daily catch of western rock lobsters and transporting them around the globe.

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Episode Notes:

In this interview by rural journalist Michael Cavanagh with CEO Matt Rutter, you’ll discover more about this proud Australian co-op that’s over 70 years old and hear what’s involved in bringing premium seafood to international and local markets. You’ll also learn why the co-operative model is the ideal structure for this business, driving a purpose that extends beyond just profits.

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Michael Cavanagh sat down with The Lockyer Fruit and Veggie Cooperative’s Colin Dorber – the driving force behind the co-op and a man committed to the future prosperity of the Lockyer Valley region.

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Episode Notes:

This month, we hear the inspiring story of Queensland's Lockyer Fruit and Veggie Cooperative which is helping to create an Australian-owned processing facility for locally grown produce. This co-op is designed to allow everyday Australians to support our farmers and contribute to ongoing food security. Michael Cavanagh sat down with Colin Dorber, the driving force behind the co-op and a man committed to the future prosperity of the Lockyer Valley region.

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In this month’s podcast, we again focus on one of the leading co-operatives in the flood-ravaged Northern Rivers region of NSW – The Casino Food Co-op. Rural journalist Michael Cavanagh sat down with Simon Stahl, CEO of The Casino Food Co-op, the largest farmer-owned meat processing co-op in Australia with over 500 farmer members. Farming is an inherently difficult vocation, but knowing the Co-op has got their back has helped members navigate drought, fires, COVID-19 and more recently the devastating floods. Its people-first philosophy allowed them to support their community through this traumatic event.

Discover why The Casino Food Co-op is such an asset to its community, and what the future holds for this forward-thinking co-operative.

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The Northern Rivers region of NSW is no stranger to floods. But this resilient community has been stretched to breaking point this year, with record-breaking floods reaching heights beyond what anyone had ever imagined. Rural journalist Michael Cavanagh joined John Williams, CEO of Summerland Credit Union, to find out what drives this member-owned bank to keep going in even the toughest circumstances.

Discover why member-owned banks are an important part of the Co-operative Farming family, how Summerland’s co-operative values have informed its flood response and why Summerland is optimistic about the future. Discover more about the bank that’s putting its members first and strengthening the capacity of its community to recover from the 2022 floods.

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When the town of Sea Lake was left with no local pub, the community took matters into their own hands, renovating a derelict building and opening the Royal Hotel as the Sea Lake Hotel Co-operative Limited.

Rural journalist Michael Cavanagh caught up with the co-op’s chair, John Clohesy and secretary, Alison McClelland. In this podcast you will learn why the Royal Hotel is such an important part of the Sea Lake community, how their previous experience in running a hardware co-operative helped the community embrace the co-operative model again, and how running the Sea Lake Hotel Co-operative has united this small community, given the town a tourism boost and provided locals with a sense of self-agency.

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Mining companies and farmers are frequently adversaries, with very different plans for the natural resources in a region. However, through the formation of a co-op, Eyre Peninsula Co-operative Bulk Handling (EPCBH), the relationship between local grain growers and mining company Iron Road is characterised by co-operation, open communication and a genuine desire to create mutually beneficial outcomes. Agricultural journalist Michael Cavanagh talks to Tim Scholz, who is a farmer in the region, as well as director and chief executive officer of EPCBH and principal of stakeholder engagement with mining company Iron Road.

In this podcast you will learn: how local grain growers and a mining company are working together to find a win-win situation, how the planned deep-water port at Cape Hardy could allow for grain and magnetite exports, and possibly even more, why co-ops give small farmers a voice and can empower them to collectively address sustainability challenges impacting their businesses and the wider community.

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In this Meet the Co-op Farmers episode rural journalist Michael Cavanagh talks to Peter Fraser, President of Community Energy 4 Goulburn (CE4G) and board member of Goulburn Community Energy Co-op. The co-op is stepping up to provide their local community with the opportunity to invest in solar energy, and to become changemakers through community-owned renewable energy.

In this podcast you’ll learn how the local community in Goulburn and its surrounds got behind the vision for solar energy, why the co-operative model was the ideal solution for the project, how the co-op is allowing everyday Australians to invest in and support renewable energy and why this project is good news for regional Australia.

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In this Meet the Co-op Farmers episode we discover the bank that’s well-known globally as the world’s biggest agricultural bank. Rabobank Australia is a subsidiary of Rabobank, the global co-operative bank based in the Netherlands, and is committed to operating with the same co-operative mindset and commitment to farmers, agriculture and global food security. Rural journalist Michael Cavanagh sat down with Marc Oostdijk, General Manager Knowledge and Networks, Sustainability and Community Engagement at Rabobank to find more about this bank with a big heart for farming and farmers.

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