Cr Daniel Mackrell, Shane Howe from Cadell Food Service and Committee for Echuca Moama Chief Executive Deanne Armstrong are all graduates from the Goulburn Murray Community Leadership-delivered program.
Since graduating from the program Ms Armstrong has remained interested in the leadership group and has recently been added to its nine-member board of management.
Goulburn Murray Community Leadership Executive Officer Nathan Bibby has invited the Echuca-Moama region to be involved in the next chapter of the program.
“Developing community leaders is the ultimate goal, by providing learning experiences and a platform where people can make change on the ground.
“One of the key objectives is having the participants identify and deliver a community project. We ask them to engage stakeholders and then present the idea to a panel,” Mr Bibby said.
The Fairley Leadership Program began in 1997 and has had 600 graduates from the program.
But the Campaspe Shire’s involvement in the program has not been at the level of previous years and applications for the newest instalment of the program close on November 8.
“One area we have identified a lack of participation in is the dairy farm sector.
“There is a real opportunity for someone to be involved in the program, as we have scholarships available in this area,” Mr Bibby said.
The Gardiner Dairy Foundation is a partner of the leadership program and offers financial support for dairy farmers who decide to take on the challenge of completing the program.
“They will actually pay the $6000 for someone to take part in this program,” Mr Bibby said.
He said the group was looking for one or two people from the Campaspe Shire area, Echuca or Moama ideally.
“We aim for 20 participants on an annual basis, as it provides for a much more intimate experience.
“It doesn’t matter what role you have, you don’t need to be a manager or CEO, the emphasis (is) on understanding the theory of leadership and self-awareness,” Mr Bibby said.
This year’s group started in March and will graduate in November.
“Unfortunately we didn’t have anyone from the Campaspe region in this year’s group,” he said.
Following the application process all applicants are interviewed before the commencement of the orientation process.
The program demands about 150 hours of program days from participants plus time for preparation and implementing a community project.
“They walk away with personal development, along with networks and connections,” he said.
Mr Bibby has been in his role nine months, having previously worked at Hobsons Bay during Campaspe Shire councillor Colleen Gates’ tenure at the Melbourne-based council.
He also worked with the Western Bulldogs, running its youth leadership and men’s health programs.
Mr Bibby said they aimed for the program to have a stronger connection and presence in Echuca and Moama in the coming years.
The 11 months involved a monthly program day, three weekend commitments - one which was in Echuca earlier this year - and online study tours.
“We used to travel to Melbourne and Canberra, but we have been navigating the pandemic regulations with these.
“The study tours have involved several high achieving leaders, including the head of athlete wellbeing from the AIS, assistant commissioner of police and Lyndon Galea, the founder of Eat Up Australia.”
