Climate Change – to believe or not to believe

Graeme Anderson, Climate Specialist, Agriculture, inspired a conversation with the LGSC 2016 participants about climate variability and the effects within our region. Discussing the challenges of mitigation and adaptation enabled the group to develop an understanding of how changing weather patterns are impacting our region. 

Jigsaw Farms Mark Wootton and Eve Kantor highlighted how they have developed farming practices that are environmentally sustainable, allowing the farm to be a profitable commercial venture. How mitigation and development of new farm practices is essential for addressing the changing climate of the region. Mark highlighted that simply changing current practises is not an option. 

Jason Thomas 2015 LGSC Alumni with Architect, Jakob Kelly discussed Jason’s his vision for a passive house that had a low carbon footprint both in its construction and moving forward into the future. Jason’s family’s vision of being self-sufficient in food and energy needs was inspiring and thought provoking, highlighting how an individual change can impact for the greater good. 

The program day raised many questions at both the group and individual level. We were left pondering what choices we can make in our own lives that will benefit the environment not only now but in the future.

Thanks to host at Jigsaw farms,  Graeme Anderson, Jason Thomas and Jakob Kelly.

Charged Landscape

LGSC have launched their new arts initiative, ‘SculptED’ on the Port Fairy Rail Trail. Following on from the success of the Ngattanwar Mural by Adnate, SculptED aims to encourage and support the development of a series of sculptural artworks across the Great South Coast region.

The initial sculpture is the culmination of a project led by LGSC 2015 Alumni Brendan Rea, Emma Mahony, Ann Cunningham and Gareth Colliton. In October 2015 expressions of interest were sought by the project team and from a number of high caliber applications local artists Becky Nevin and Jon Dixon were engaged to complete the initial sculpture.

The inaugural artwork titled ‘Charged Landscape’, has been installed on the Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail, a short walk from Regent Street. Comprising of eleven granite boulders embedded with glowing discs, the sculpture represents the stars of the Milky Way, and refers particularly to the Emu in the Sky constellation. Within the glowing discs are approximately 30 different pictures, representing the multiple histories of the site.

Becky Nevin spoke about the concept behind the work as being an investigation into lesser-known aspects of the site.

“This artwork has been conceived as a way to recognise the many overlapping histories of the Port Fairy Railway site and the broader Port Fairy community. We have created an overarching concept that allows us to represent these different aspects in a cohesive artwork; the Emu in the Sky from Australian Indigenous astronomy and a collection of images embedded in the ‘stars’ of the sculpture. These represent knowledge shared with us from local historians, Aboriginal Elders, geologists, ecologists and fishermen”.

The project was achieved with seed funding from the Hugh Williamson Foundation and financial support the Isobel and David Jones Family Foundation, The Gall Foundation, Warrnambool City Council, Glenelg Hopkins CMA. Generous in kind support was provided by WAG, Bamstone, The Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail Committee, Gunditjmara Co-op, and The F Project.

Next time you are in Port Fairy take a short walk along the Rail Trail (from Regent Street entrance) and experience ‘Charged Landscape’ both day and at night.

This project was supported by Glenelg Hopkins CMA, through funding from the Australian Govenment’s national Landcare Programme.

Building resilience and leading choicefully

The 2016 LGSC cohort were literally blown to Port Fairy’s Community Service Centre for their second Leadership Skills session with lead facilitator Corrinne Armour. Once again, the future leaders were taken up onto the balcony to look down assess their personal capacities as leaders, project managers and pillars of resilience.

The day was filled with reflections on the program thus far, the strategies of choiceful leadership and establishing project management skills in anticipation of the up coming 2016 Leadership Great South Coast community projects.

Choosing resilience was the final take home message of the day, identifying that an upset is simply an opportunity for growth. Different strategies were identified to assist the cohort in developing their own resilience as leaders. A powerful and touching way to finish for the term break.

With projects being hot topic, it was fitting that the day concluded with the Launch of the 2015 Project Group ‘SculptED’ sculpture along the beautiful Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail (see our Gallery Page). A wonderful achievement for this hard working group!

The future leaders would like to thank Corrinne Armour for fabulous facilitation and Moyne Shire for hosting us.

Future Leaders Meet Local Politicians and Futurist

The 16 future leaders of the LGSC Program got to meet with and hear some exciting new developments and challenges which confront the Great South Coast Region of Victoria.

During the event the LGSC participants got to meet and ask questions of Ms. Karen Foster, Great South Coast Group Executive Officer, Ms. Roma Britnell, Member for South West Coast, Cr. Colin Ryan, Mayor, Moyne Shire, Great South Coast Group Chair, Mr. Andrew Mason CEO Corangamite Shire, Great South Coast Group Director.

At the start of the event the group heard from Ms. Karen Foster who gave a run down on the Great South Coast – Regional Strategic Plan which set forth the future strategic direction of the Great South Coast Group for the 2014 – 2019 period.

Thereafter, the LGSC participants got to hear from and ask questions of the panel members, during the discussion participants were informed about priority projects such as the “Beyond the Bell’ a program designed to increase school retention rates.

The event was facilitated by Mr. Mike McAllum, Futures Architect from the Global Foresight Network who spoke about the future directions of leadership based on a Futurists perspective. He also stressed to the future leaders of the LGSC that “some of the best leaders always have time…time to speak to people and time to think”. He also challenged the participants to “challenge yourself and to think strategically and laterally. Think Big!”

Jarrod Clarke

Thanks to Corangamite Shire for hosting us.