LM2000 plus - 1999 Leadership Group

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Community Leadership ~ the 2000 Leadership Group

Communities need leaders

Effective communities for the 21st century will require committed, engaging and involving volunteer leaders, according to Celie Moar, at the launch of this year's Loddon Murray Community Leadership program in Swan Hill.

"We need leaderful communities", says Celie, "These communities will develop to be stronger and more effective. Leaderful communities will help communities re-invent themselves, identifying and capitalising on their natural strengths, resources and self interest. We need a range of leadership development programs across the whole community, industry, regions, state and nation."

According to Celie, the biggest problem facing regional Australia is not those issues that bombard us daily, from depressed incomes and poor job prospects to globalisation and economic rationalism.

The crisis is that we as people don't know how to come together to solve these problems.

Celie spoke about the changes confronting rural regions and the need for leadership to face the challenges of the future.

"Change in the adjoining Mallee region, particularly along the irrigation areas, is increasingly evident. We are not only seeing change in natural resources management, but social change that goes with depopulation and the increasing scale of farms", Celie says.

Celie calculates that the dryland mallee could see only 325 farm families operating in the next 10 - 15 years. Currently there are 2000 farmers. This is based on the impact of overseas agricultural policies and current Mallee population trends.

"We need to understand the change that we are involved it before we respond to it. We need to talk honestly about the fundamental changes that are happening," she says.

According to Celie, the ability of rural communities to survive, grow and develop will depend on their willingness and skills to identify, attract, develop, renew and retain leaders.

Celie welcomed the 2000 participants to the "leadership journey", saying that she was sure that after participating in the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program, each member will be better prepared to help shape the future of this region.

Press Release...
Launch of this year's Community Leadership Program.

The 2000 leadership group