The Upper Murray Community Recovery Committee (CRC) is partnering with Alpine Valleys Community Leadership (AVCL) to deliver a program for emerging and future community leaders of the Upper Murray region and other fire-affected areas of the Towong Shire.
The Upper Murray Community Leadership Program, made possible through major funding from Emergency Recovery Victoria, will immerse participants in a 10-day program from August to December this year.
The program is modelled on the framework of a successful pilot delivered in the Upper Murray last year and includes an overnight retreat in Tumbarumba, a site visit to North East Water Wodonga and a study tour to Derby in Tasmania – a thriving community that has reimagined their economic and social future as part of their recovery process.
Jo Mackinnon, Chair of Upper Murray Inc. (UMI) and treasurer of New program supports recovery vision Upper Murray CRC, said “This program is an opportunity to develop leadership skills which will enable participants to effectively contribute to the community capacity building and economic development of the Upper Murray.”
AVCL Executive Officer, Jacqui Bramwell, added “Participants can expect to be equipped with an understanding of how to work through slow and fast moving challenges and how to contribute to successfully leading their community through transformative change.”
Graduate of the 2022 pilot program, Tania Costello, Chair of Tintaldra Community Recovery Committee, said of her experience “I was motivated to undertake the program to build on my leadership skills and widen my thinking abilities through both the theory and the Tasmania study tour.
“The tour was well organised with many interesting activities. I most enjoyed going to Derby and learning about its history and turnaround.
“Meeting different community members involved in the mountain bike trails was a highlight as well as riding one of the trails and then ending the day experiencing the floating sauna.
“It was overall a great learning experience I would highly recommend to anyone interested.”
Applications for the program are now open and close on Monday July 10th. Further information including the program schedule dates and application form, can be found on the AVCL website www.avclp.org.au/umclp.
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 15 June 2023.
