Kirstin Nicholson, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
Leitchville’s Matthew Hawken is part of a new program designed to strengthen the future of regional communities through capacity building and collaboration.
The Drought Resilience Leaders Development Program is an initiative of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund offered in 12 regions around Australia. The Mallee region program includes 25 people working in agriculture, financial service providers, irrigators and self-employed business consultants.
Having previously completed the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program and finding that an interesting and rewarding experience, Matthew embraced the opportunity to sign up for this program. “Being an Australian rural leadership program aimed around resilience and drought resilience, it was appealing to learn more in that space,” Matthew said.
The program kicked off in the Big Desert near Patchewollock on Tuesday, August 16 and focused on leadership, networks and building personal and community resilience.
Matthew said that over the four days, participants shared their diverse backgrounds and the journeys they had taken to get to where they are today. They spoke about their communities and the leadership roles they hold within those communities.
“Most of my leadership has been in sport – and I’m big on providing opportunities for everyone, big on making sure everyone gets equal opportunity,” he said.
“Everyone [in the program] is in a community-based role – these are people that get in and have a go. You want to get in and make an impact. Resilience and adaptive change resonate when you go through.”
He said it is important for people to reflect on what has historically and recently impacted their communities, and for community members to then recognise that they must embrace change to go forward.
The program will be delivered over eight days in total and focuses on topics including adaptive leadership, change theory, personal and community resilience, climate science, problem solving, mental and physical wellbeing, scenario planning, influence and network leadership.
A second session will be held online in September, and participants will meet again in person in Swan Hill for a third and final development session in late October.
The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund provides funding to help Australian farmers and communities prepare for and respond to the impacts of drought. It has engaged the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation to lead the $7.45 million program, which will give farmers and regional communities the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge, mindset and networks to lead their communities into the future.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 25 August 2022.
