From: "Saved by Windows Internet Explorer 8" Subject: Stories of Success from Rural and Regional Australia Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:19:56 +1100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAC54E.6D5B9580" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6001.18049 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAC54E.6D5B9580 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.communityeconomies.org/videoconf.html Stories of Success from Rural and Regional = Australia

=20
[Back to = Projects=20 page]

Stories of Success=20 from Rural and Regional Australia

Video Conference,=20 November 1998

   
Video Conference=20

Introduct= ion=20  by Jenny Cameron

Projec= ts=20 Showcased

Reviewin= g=20 the Conference Themes by Katherine Gibson

Outcom= es
 =20


Stories of = Success from=20 Rural and Regional Australia was an event that used=20 video-conferencing technology to link community, academic and = industry=20 speakers from around Australia.  Four centres - Gippsland,=20 Newcastle, Shepparton, and Central Queensland - were linked for = an=20 afternoon conference and workshop designed to highlight the many = positive projects underway outside big = cities. 

 

STORIES OF = SUCCESS FROM RURAL=20 AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA: A VIDEOCONFERENCE, TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER = 1998=20

The=20 video-conference
Local people told of their efforts = at=20 overcoming the damage wrought by restructuring and closures by = taking the=20 initiative in innovative ways.  Speakers from each region = showcased=20 their project, explaining where the idea had come from, how they'd = got it=20 off the ground, how they'd resourced the work and what it had = achieved.=20 The speakers were followed by a workshop activity. The regions = went off=20 line, broke into small groups to discuss the presentations and = brainstorm=20 how existing community assets - human, physical, business, = institutional -=20 could be utilised in community building activities that enhanced = the=20 social, economic and environmental attributes of regions. Finally, = the=20 centres linked up again, reported back on the workshop outcomes, = and=20 discussed ways of building connections across regions to enhance = the=20 processes of community building and the mobilisation of existing=20 assets.

The linking of people across = different=20 communities and regions was a fantastic success. 

At the end of the conference we = asked people=20 what they had got out of the afternoon. Here's a sample of what = they=20 said:

"Positive 'good news' stories are invaluable = ... =20 Too often we look at issues and problems without devoting = the same=20 time to solutions and successes."=20

"The program = was really=20 interesting and very positive.  Perhaps we need to = learn more=20 about how successful community groups cope with 'set-backs' = and=20 failure."

"The = inspiration of so many=20 good ideas: the diversity of perspectives that are change = oriented=20 and effective."

"It opened my = eyes to see=20 what individuals and community can achieve through = cooperation. I=20 hope what I learnt today I can take back to our community = and will=20 be used in the future."

'I really = enjoyed the=20 opportunity to network with such a diverse range of=20 people."

"The = afternoon was an=20 opportunity to have our work made visible, to be affirmed = and to=20 find new partners in this work."

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=20

STORIES OF SUCCESS=20 FROM RURAL AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA: A VIDEOCONFERENCE, TUESDAY 10 = NOVEMBER=20 1998

=91INTRODUCTION=92

Jenny=20 Cameron
School of Public Policy, Monash = University

Please cite but to = not=20 quote.=20

Non-metropolitan = regions and rural=20 Australia are currently on the agenda. This has been brought about = by a=20 whole range of different processes and events in recent years. = Often the=20 focus, especially in the media, is on the problems that beset the = bush.=20 Today however we=92re going to hear about some of the exciting and = innovative projects that people are working on in Australia=92s = regions and=20 rural areas. Many of these projects address the problems that seem = to=20 dominate discussions.

The projects twelve = that will be=20 showcased this afternoon have a number of common characteristics - = 4 that=20 I can think of.

1. They are primarily = concerned with=20 social, environmental and ethical issues. They seek to address = questions=20 like =91what would help to make this a better community to live = in?=92, =91how=20 could we make this a more sustainable community and region?=92. = The economic=20 element of the projects flows from this initial focus on what some = might=20 call the non-economic.

2. The projects that = we=92ll hear=20 about are tapping into and working with the assets and resources = that=20 already exist in regions and communities - whether these be human = or=20 physical. In some cases this involves uncovering the hidden worth = of=20 something - or someone. This process of valuing or revaluing is = taking=20 place in terms of the social, environmental, ethical and economic=20 contributions of people and physical resources.

3. Many of the = projects build across=20 differences between people, differences like age, politics, race,=20 life-style, and so on. This process of bridging differences is = creating=20 new understandings and new connections between people.

4. Finally some of the = projects are=20 shaping new forms of community. As our experience of living in = place=20 changes we are seeing innovative forms of community building = happening=20 across =91the tyranny of distance=92. Spatially dispersed = communities are=20 developing around shared interests and concerns. These new = formations work=20 alongside locally-based communities.

So, why is an event = like this,=20 focusing on stories of success from regional and rural Australia,=20 important?

At the moment there is = a sense that=20 many rural areas and non-metropolitan regions are looking for an = injection=20 from outside for the thing that will make them healthier and = function more=20 efficiently and more effectively. The focus is on what regional = and rural=20 Australia needs from big business and from big government to set = it right.=20 The approach we=92re taking this afternoon is to look at the = things that=20 rural and regional Australia are already doing right. We=92re = focusing on=20 the positives, on the projects that have been initiated from = within=20 regional and rural areas to address current issues and=20 problems.

At the moment regional = and rural=20 areas are talked about in terms of whether they are successful or=20 crisis-ridden. This success or otherwise is measured in economic = terms -=20 the level of investment that is flowing into an area, the value of = the=20 produce that is being exported, the number of overseas markets = that are=20 being tapped into. The assumption is that economic success breeds = social=20 success. In research we have done in regional communities over the = last 2=20 years we=92ve found that this is not the case. In economic terms = some=20 regions might seem as if they are doing better than others. But = people=92s=20 sense of social well-being and their level of concern about their=20 communities are similar - whether they are living in so-called = winner or=20 loser regions. In other words, the issues for regional communities = cut=20 across differences that might be measured in economic = terms.

It is our hope that = this afternoon=20 we can start from our different situations and begin a = conversation that=20 addresses issues that are common to us all. It is our hope that we = can=20 learn from the projects and initiatives that are being=20 developed.

So to begin our = conversation we are=20 going to hear from community and industry speakers about the = twelve=20 projects. We=92ll start with Shepparton, and from there we=92ll = move on to=20 Newcastle, and then come back to Gippsland. After a break and a = workshop=20 activity we=92ll link back up to hear from each of the three = regions and=20 also from Central Queensland.

PROJECTS=20 SHOWCASED
Site One: Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE,=20 Shepparton
(Host, Linda Bennett, Regional = Coordinator)=20

  • Community=20 Surface Drainage Scheme
    (Jane Barnes, Community Drains=20 Officer)

  • Food=20 Technology Cadetship
    (Glen Cox, SPC)

  • Fig= =20 Tree Community Garden
    (Michelle Patterson,=20 Coordinator)

  • Rumbalara=20 Football Netball Club
    (Neville Atkinson,=20 Vice-President/Manager, Healthy Lifestyle Program)    =20

Site Two Newcastle University, = Newcastle
(Host,=20 Phil O=92Neill, Dept. of Geography & Env. Science)=20

  • Regional=20 Industry Clusters
    (Michael Murray, Hunter Regional = Development=20 Org.)

  • Pathways=20 Project
    (Greg Cameron, BHP)

  • Linking=20 Farmers and Restaurateurs
    (Robbie Molines, Roberts at=20 Peppertree)

Site Three Monash University, = Gippsland
(Host,=20 Jenny Cameron)

  • Mirboo North=20 Cooperative Newspaper
    (Gero Gardener & Marion = Thiele,=20 Cooperative Members)

  • Work=20 Focus Inc.
    (Rob Sandall, Manager)

  • Building Rural=20 Futures Through Co-Operation, Study Circle = Project
    (Helen Sheil=20 ; Neil Smith, The Centre for Rural Communities,     = Monash = University)

  • Home=20 Paddock
    (Graeme Blackman, Small Business = Facilitator)    =20

  • RADCON=20 Sawmill
    (Andy Knorr, Manager)     =

TOP=20

Citation = details
This paper can be cited as = follows:
Cameron, Jenny,=20 'Introduction',  Stories of Success from Rural and Regional=20 Australia: A Videoconference, 10 November 1998 [online]. Available = at: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/projects/cep/projects/videoconf.html= =20

 

STORIES OF SUCCESS=20 FROM RURAL AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA: A VIDEOCONFERENCE, TUESDAY 10 = NOVEMBER=20 1998

=91REVIEWING CONFERENCE THEMES=92

Katherine=20 Gibson
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, = Monash=20 University

Please cite but to = not=20 quote.

What we have heard = about today is in=20 stark contrast to the dominant images of rural and regional = Australia that=20 are currently in circulation. These images foreground = problems--the bush=20 is "running on empty" (as the story in last Wednesday=92s = Australian was=20 headed), or rural and regional areas are in desperate need of=20 rescue by government assistance or big business investment = (the=20 message of the Australian Financial Review's account of the = recently=20 published State of the Regions Report by the National Institute of = Economic and Industry Research).

Today=92s stories = indicate that the=20 bush is not empty of ideas, initiatives and innovative projects, = and that=20 support for existing initiatives rather than rescue of the = helpless=20 victims might be a more appropriate way to go.

We have heard about a = range of=20 projects that are all contributing to regional and rural economic=20 development--but they are not the sorts of projects often = highlighted in=20 economic and regional policy.

Perhaps this is = because their=20 primary goal is located with a social and environmental concern, a = community initiative or an aesthetic valuing. The economic outcome = is just=20 that--an outcome of other processes more immediate to=20 communities.

When measured by the = usual=20 indicators of =91economic success=92 some of these projects might = appear=20 small--in terms of the total employment generated, value of = turnover,=20 annual profits, volume of goods produced and so.

But what these = measures of economic=20 success miss is the rich network of social, environmental and = economic=20 relationships that these projects both tap into and give rise to. = If you=20 like, their multiplier effect is not limited to narrowly defined = economic=20 indicators.

The reverberations of = these projects=20 are felt throughout the community. They enhance the rich tapestry = of=20 social life, build new social interactions and connections and = celebrate=20 our environmental heritage.

In our workshop today = we have an=20 opportunity to reflect on how projects such as these--and many = more that=20 you may know of--

build upon the = existing assets of=20 an area,

contribute to = processes of=20 community building, and

produce social and = environmental=20 outcomes as well as economic = outcomes.

We have a chance to = think about how=20 economic considerations can be tamed, how the =91economy=92 can = become our=20 servant--not our master.

And we have a chance = to imagine new=20 ways of relating within communities and across communities in = different=20 regions. One outcome of this might be that we are better prepared = in our=20 negotiations with big business and big government.

What I would like to = do now is to=20 pull out some of the themes that connect each of projects = presented=20 today.

Theme 1 EXISTING=20 ASSETS

One important aspect = of each project=20 is that it builds upon the existing assets of an area whether it = be human,=20 physical, business or institutional assets.

What=92s exciting = about some of the=20 projects is how they take something at hand of seemingly little = value=20 and incorporate it into a new process of valuing. For example, = in the=20 Latrobe Valley, Woodworx takes abandoned or waste timber and = utilises it=20 in a process that gives value to the work of retrenched workers = and=20 unemployed youth. In the Hunter Valley the connections that are = being=20 built between farmers and restaurateurs involves a revaluing of = local=20 produce that builds upon the distinctive qualities of the local=20 environment

Another innovation = is the way that=20 some projects are building new partnerships based on the = existing assets=20 of an area. The Food Technology Cadetship in the Goulburn = Valley, for=20 example, brings together educational resources and large = corporations to=20 provide new opportunities for young people in a region where = many young=20 people are leaving. The Pathways Project in Newcastle builds = upon the=20 resources of a large corporation, existing educational = institutions and=20 the skills and initiative of workers who are soon to be = retrenched from=20 the steel industry

Theme 2 COMMUNITY=20 BUILDING

The projects all = contribute to some=20 form of community building. We can see this happening in a number = of=20 ways

One of the = inspirational qualities=20 of today=92s presentations is how they are building communities = of=20 understanding across personal differences. The Study Circle = Project and=20 Mirboo North Newspaper Cooperative are great examples of this = and so are=20 the Fig Tree Community Garden and Rumbalara Football Netball=20 Club.

Another way that = communities are=20 being built is across space. Here we are seeing the emergence of = new=20 forms of community centred , for example on care of the = environment in=20 the case of the Community Surface Drainage Scheme. Another form = of=20 community is emerging out of market connections across a region. = Home=20 Paddock offers support for farm-based producers throughout South = Gippsland, the Regional Industry Clusters Project in the Hunter = Valley=20 brings small and large producers into a new network.

Many of the projects = showcased are=20 enhancing community and environmental well-being. The Radcon = Sawmill in=20 South Gippsland, for example, initially addressed an = environmental=20 concern and has grown to become a source of employment in a = small town=20 thereby contributing to community=20 sustainability

Theme 3 GOALS AND=20 OUTCOMES

What all these = projects illustrate=20 is the way in which goals that have meaning to communities are the = focus,=20 goals such as

keeping young people = in rural=20 areas

valuing and = redirecting the skills=20 of retrenched workers

maintaining and = developing new=20 avenues of communication and connection in the = community

caring for land and = ensuring its=20 sustainability as a resource

All these goals have = economic=20 as well as social and environmental outcomes. In fostering these = so-called=20 non-economic goals

new enterprises and = new forms of=20 enterprise are emerging

new products and = innovations are=20 being produced

new and different = markets are=20 being created, AND

a diverse range of = economic=20 relationships are being recognized as crucial to the functioning = of=20 rural and regional economies.

 

What we are going to = ask you to do=20 in the workshop is to reflect on

1. Other examples and = potential for=20 building upon the existing assets within your region

2. Other examples or = potential for=20 community building within your region, and

3. Opportunities for = building=20 connections of support across our regions

 

STORIES OF SUCCESS=20 FROM RURAL AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

1. = EACH PROJECT TAPS=20 INTO THE EXISTING ASSETS OF AN AREA

Human (eg. = individuals,=20 associations)
Physical (eg. environmental = resources)
Business=20 (eg. small business, large business)
Institutions (eg. = educational=20 institutions, government departments and=20 authorities)

2. = EACH PROJECT=20 FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY=20 BUILDING

Building community = across=20 personal differences in place
Enabling development of = community=20 across space
Enhancing community and environmental=20 well-being

3. = EACH PROJECT HAS=20 ECONOMIC=20 OUTCOMES

New = enterprises
New=20 products
New markets
New economic=20 relationships

4. = EACH PROJECT HAS=20 SOCIAL AND = ENVIRONMENTAL=20 OUTCOMES

New communities=20 built
Existing communities strengthened
Environmental = concerns=20 addressed

 

Citation = details
This=20 paper can be cited as follows:
Gibson, Katherine, 'Reviewing = Conference=20 Themes', Stories of Success from Rural and Regional Australia: A=20 Videoconference, 10 November 1998 [online]. Available at: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/projects/cep/projects/videoconf.html= =20

TOP=20

 

STORIES OF SUCCESS=20 FROM RURAL AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA: A VIDEOCONFERENCE, TUESDAY 10 = NOVEMBER=20 1998

Outcomes=20

=20

At the close of the = videoconference=20 we asked participants if there were any ideas about other = activities that=20 they would like to see followed-up.  Here are some of the=20 replies:=20

=20

TOP

 " = A networking=20 system, sharing ideas and spreading good projects further = afield for=20 encouragement."=20

" Workshops = with economic=20 development boards of councils."

"Any = activities that=20 provide a similar opportunity to learn from people who share = similar=20 interests."

"A networking = group to help=20 with future fundraising and ideas."

"Publish = stories in a=20 non-academic book that could be a resource for community=20 groups."

The Community = Economies=20 website is the direct outcome from the videoconference. It is = the most=20 accessible way the Community Economies project felt it could = contribute to=20 people's wishes for networking, information and = encouragement.=20

[ Back to Projects page = ]     [TOP]=20

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