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Skills and Confidence, Innovation
Friday 12 March at Donald
Kookas Country Cookies in Donald plays host to the LMCLP 2010 Participants showing that businesses can thrive in smaller communities.
Community Leaders Visit Donald
On Friday the 12th March 2010 participants of the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program (LMCLP) visited Donald as part of the 2010 program. They focused on skills, confidence and innovation.
The day started with a workshop on how to work with the media with Julie Slater from JLS Consulting, and insights were given on how the media works by Ashley Fritsch of the Buloke Times.
A bus tour was then held around the township with Buloke Shire Economic Development Manager Graeme Harris. This showcased the work that was done behind the scenes to attract business and development to the shire. Places visited included Kookas Kookies, Eatwell and Waratah biscuits. They also visited the Donald Primary School and heard the fascinating story of how the ‘big shed’ at the school was built. A story of community partnerships and perseverance. The tour concluded with a visit to the local Lions Club train park, a great place for kids to play.
Speakers during the day included a warm welcome from program sponsor Buloke Shire by the Deputy Mayor Cr David Pollard, Donald Citizen of the Year Robyn-Lee Bales spoke passionately about how a community initiative of heating the local swimming pool became a reality.
Cr Ellen White of the Buloke gave the group an insight on how council works and her journey to becoming a Shire Councillor. Brett Schofield, Manager of the Charlton Community Bank also a program sponsor, spoke about community banking and how it can benefit local communities.
Keynote speaker for the evening was Maree Cullen of Donald; she shared her experience of her trip to Papua New Guinea to walk the Kokoda Track in 2009. Participants were moved by the many photographs shown by Maree depicting the stunning but extremely challenging terrain including endless river crossings and rain forests. “I have a new found admiration for the Australian soldiers who fought along the Kokoda Track”, Maree said.
Maree further said, “It reminded us of the bravery of the Australian troops who fought through atrocious conditions and against vastly superior enemy numbers to protect our country.” A point all present agreed with.
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