Process Makes Perfect

Process! Process! Process! The value of process in any project, whether large or small, cannot be overstated. Our Program Day presenter, Kevin Bennett was clear to ‘always follow and trust the process’. Processes make it very clear to all project team members what is expected of them and if followed correctly, can give the best chance to implement a successful project. This knowledge will be beneficial to all 2021 LGSC participants as we develop and manage our community projects.

The day was set up in a manner which provided us with an interactive learning experience working on a fictitious project in our project team.  The activity was set up in a way that we worked through this project in a methodically. This illustrated to us how important following the process is for project management. The interactive nature of the day honed the themes around project management we were being taught.

Understanding the five stages for a project is important to help us stick to the process. These stages are:

1. Initiating
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Monitoring / Controlling
5. Closing

Working within our project teams, we were able to get a sense of what it will be like to work together on our own community projects. For most of us, our strengths and weaknesses were highlighted during the task we worked on. A mix of different strengths is a good thing for any project management team and if we follow the processes put in place, we should be able to execute our community projects to the best of our ability.

Process is important. And the process makes sense. If as teams we can follow the process properly, we will help ourselves to succeed. Our goal is to implement a project which helps the local community. For some of us, we have never done anything like this before. Following the processes will help us enormously and keep us on track so that we can do the best possible project.

Jamie Pepper, LGSC 2021 Participant

Thanks to Kevin Bennett, KB Business Solutions [email protected]

Menu of the day Strategic Thinking and Ethical Leadership

A feast of the delicacies of Strategy and Ethical Leadership encompassing facts, wisdom, and wit.

Three keynote speakers addressed, highlighted, and delivered on the need for and impact of validated planned strategy and ethical leadership to positively contribute to the overall health and welfare of the communities we work and live within, the region, the state, and the country.

Dr Jonathon Spear, Deputy CEO and COO, Infrastructure Victoria was the highlight of my day via his delivery of the background, achievements of the organisation, and the rationale of the powerful forward-looking recently released draft report’s dynamic vision and focus over the next 30 years.

Highlights

• 90% of the recommendations from Infrastructure Victoria’s first report released in 2016 have been delivered on or are on their way to completion.
• There are enormous potential economic and social benefits from the recently released draft 30-year Infrastructure Strategy.
• Infrastructure Victoria is talking about benefits to Regional Victoria.
• Communities within the region must align with the regional strategic plans to fully drive the maximum value for the region.

My takeaway quote “take it and run with it” in relation to the information and recommendations included in the report striking the sweet spot with me via the draft report’s recognition of the need for power transmission infrastructure upgrades.  The much discussed and now acknowledged requirement to upgrade transmission lines leading to positive economic and social impacts i.e.

• instilling a feeling of safety within communities through knowledge that the replacement of outdated aged unsafe and decaying infrastructure is on its way,
• the more efficient transmission of renewable power to all,
• the enticement and encouragement of all types of manufacturing to move to/into the regional rural areas and
• the ability to provide the economic efficiencies which will then drive regional economic, social health and welfare benefits in all forms.

Thank you to Lisa Dwyer for her witty delivery, talk and walk through in her capacity as Great South Coast Regional Partnership Chair.

To Dr Greg Wood and Simon Illingworth your invaluable insights and challenges into and within ethical leadership, were powerful signposts to help navigate the often-blurred principles of ethics and the importance of ethical leadership.

To all the guest speakers of our third day feast of knowledge, strategy and ethics – thank you, we enjoyed the menu.

Oonagh Kilpatrick, 2021 Program Participant

2021 Participants

Please join us in welcoming our 2021 Program participants:

Brendan Hyland, Area Manager Milk Quality, South West Victoria, Fonterra Australia
Sponsor – The Gardiner Foundation

Lynden Brown, People and Culture Advisor, South West TAFE

Kylie McIntyre, Sustainability Coordinator, Southern Grampians Shire Council

Ben Marsden, Coordinator Eastern Treatment Team, Wannon Water

Kylie Moroney, Teacher, School for Student Leadership Gnurad-Gundidj Campus

Paul Dunn, Veterinary Technician, The Vetgroup
Sponsor – Corangamite Shire

Tania Penny, Customer Relations Coordinator (Collections), Wannon Water

Heather Smillie, Regional Extension Officer and Young Dairy Network Coordinator, WestVic Dairy

Ashleigh Glennon, Health Promotion Project Officer, South West Healthcare
Sponsor – The Hugh Williamson Foundation

Carl Joyce, Podiatrist, Gen Health
Sponsor – South West Community Foundation

Peter McLauchlan, Business Manager Innovation & Research, Lyndoch Living

Craig McLeod, Food Service Manager South West Healthcare Warrnambool

Aaron Leddin, ICT System Administration Officer, Moyne Shire Council

Ella Credlin, Agribusiness Manager, ANZ Bank
Sponsor – Leadership Great South Coast

Jamie Pepper, Assistant Manager, Whispering Meadows
Sponsor – Agriculture Victoria Young Farmer

Oonagh Kilpatrick, Co-Owner H and O Kilpatrick Pty Ltd
Sponsor – Great South Coast Food and Fibre Council

2020 Graduation – Meet Our Newest Alumni

Congratulations to our 2020 participants who graduated on 26 Nov, they now join a growing Alumni of community leaders building capacity across the Great South Coast Region of Victoria.

In a challenging year we achieved a 100% retention and graduation rate which is quiet an accomplishment – we congratulate all our graduates who have developed and gown as adaptive leaders throughout 2020. Introducing our newest Alumni:

1. Billy Edis, Director, Southcoast Project Management
2. Catherine Darkin, Advisor, Population Health and Community Wellbeing. Department of Health and Human Services
3. Jason Van Der Heyden, Maintenance Electrician, Wannon Water
4. Catherine Fitzgerald, Treasurer, Warrnambool Agricultural Society
   Sponsor – South West Community Foundation
5. Craig Kelson, Financial Accountant, South West TAFE
6. Dominic Conheady, Dairy Farmer, Self Employed
   Sponsor – Gardiner Foundation
7. Joseph Sinnott, Human Resources Advisor, Warrnambool City Council
8. Joy Coulson, Farm Services Advisor, Saputo Dairy Australia
   Sponsor – Gardiner Foundation
9. Kara Winderlich, Risk Management Coordinator, Southern Grampians Shire Council
10. Emily Falla, Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer, South West Healthcare
    Sponsor – Wannon Water
11. Jerram Wurlod- Operations Manager – Keayang Maar Vineyard, Dixie
    Sponsor – Corangamite Shire
12. Liam Arnott, Works Supervisor – Construction, Moyne Shire Council 
13. Mandy Cohen, Area Manager Wimmera South West, MacKillop Family Services
14. Troy Lovett- Wurreker Broker, Victorian Aboriginal Education Association
    Sponsor – Leadership Great South Coast

15. Michelle Badenhorst, Owner Suffoir Winery and Brewery, Macarthur
    Sponsor – Women In Agriculture 
16. Tim McPherson, Management Accountant, Wannon Water