Community cause for celebration

SOME of the community’s hardest workers had their contributions celebrated in a special event on Monday.

Volunteer community coordinators were acknowledged at Bannockburn Cultural Centre, and mayor Cr Helena Kirby launched the Shire’s Community Planning Action Plan 2021-24.

The event also included a speech from Citizen of the Year Brad McKenzie and volunteers had the chance to network with other coordinators and councillors while viewing the region’s 23 community plans.

“The achievements of community coordinators over the past 21 years are numerous and impressive,” Cr Kirby said.

“From the Bunjil Eagle Viewing Platform at Maude to Tai Chi classes at the Garibaldi Hall, these volunteers have significantly contributed to ensuring their communities are connected and vibrant places to live.”

Ninety-two community coordinators were present at the event, recognised for dedicating their time to implement their town’s own community plan.

The volunteers seek feedback and ideas from residents and identify top priorities before advocating to council and other funding bodies to help get their projects running.

The meeting came as National Volunteer Week, the nation’s biggest celebration of volunteers, was slated for next week.

This year’s theme is recognise, reconnect, reimagine, and events will take place across the country to acknowledge the achievements of volunteers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“On behalf of council, I thank all our community coordinators for providing their time and effort to making Golden Plains Shire a better place to live,” Cr Kirby said.

The Shire’s community planning program involves support for communities in identifying goals for their own area and map out actions to achieve them through three-year action plans.

While focusing on volunteers strengthening the community, the program also focuses on how towns can become more environmentally and socially sustainable.

“The community planning program is an important program at council, as we recognise that local people are the experts when it comes to their own communities,” Cr Kirby said.

“Our Community Planning Action Plan recognises this and underpins council’s commitment to the program and our community coordinators.”

Golden Plains Shire’s three-year community action plan has been heavily reviewed and was adopted by council at last month’s council meeting.

The plan aims to continue support and recognition of community coordinators and is available at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/community-planning.