Community Stories – WA North Midlands & surrounds Community Builders
With their unwavering dedication to community development and deep-rooted passion for making a difference our North Midlands Community Builders are an endless source of inspiration, igniting enthusiasm all around.
This dynamic group of community leaders brings fresh insights, innovative ideas, and a shared vision for a stronger and more vibrant North Midlands.
Their resilience in the face of challenges and tireless efforts to foster positive change serve as a constant reminder that together, we can achieve remarkable things.
Thank you, North Midlands & surrounds Community Builders, Peter Kenyon from Bank of I.D.E.A.S and our incredible community connector Jude Sutherland.
From Jen Curnow-Trotter – Community Programs Manager (2020 – 2024)
Click the photo to view their profile
Andy Barton
What town do you reside: Coorow
What do you love about your town: People
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Stay involved
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Services
What do you want people to know about your town? Community
What other towns inspire you and why? Caonamah – People
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. n/a
Cynthia Comeagain
What town do you reside: Mullewa
What do you love about your town: It’s my home town, always feel welcomed, a lot of relaxing places in and out skirts of town shown on our town map
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? More engagement with youth
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? n/a
What do you want people to know about your town? Mullewa isn’t like our ‘reputation’ it is a welcoming community
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin with their story of how they got their amazing slide and the journey they went to make it happen
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. In 2018 I won the youth citizenship award on Western Australia day in Gerladton
Cassandra Young
What town do you reside: Mullewa
What do you love about your town: Community connections
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Provide opportunities to the community. Negin to create change
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Distance, lack of motivation, dwindling population
What do you want people to know about your town? It’s not all bad. Mullewa has some very positive aspects to our community
What other towns inspire you and why? All surrounding towns are inspirational and have ideas that can be adapted
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I enjoy cooking
Tara Bradford
What town do you reside: Perenjori
What do you love about your town: The people
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Fill in the voids. Develop areas/buildings that are currently underdeveloped. Get people excited about our town.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Lack of services
What do you want people to know about your town? A friendly inviting town
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin – enthusiastic go getter community members
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I’ve lived in Perenjori for 17 years after coming travelling as a backpacker from Ireland in 2006
Carine McTaggert
What town do you reside: Mingenew
What do you love about your town: I feel a little ‘deflated’ with my community at the moment. Physically, I love the location/outlook of our Recreation Centre
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? An active group that can ‘get things done’ to make our town a better place without the hold ups of bureaucracy. Start small and make a big impact.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Community involvement from all age groups/socio-economic groups
What do you want people to know about your town? Fun and engaging community
What other towns inspire you and why? Three Springs – townscaping, vision, community vibrancy
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I operate a pearl jewellery business (online from a farmhouse).
Diana North
What town do you reside: Morawa
What do you love about your town: Our incredible community
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? A more connected and vibrant community
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Encouraging others to embrace change
What do you want people to know about your town? Morawa is more than what meets the eye, it is full of talented, kind and supportive people and is forever finding new enterprises to bring more life to Morawa
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin. I love their commitment to their annual Bush Races event and the way their community has leaned into the ideas ad opportunities presented to them.
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I love to belt out a big tune (in private)!
Ramandeep Singh Virdi
What town do you reside: Three Springs
What do you love about your town: Community
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Community Action Group rebranded
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Volunteer burnout
What do you want people to know about your town? Silo projection initiative
What other towns inspire you and why? Add more colour to the town main street
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. First person from 2021 (Masters) batch and secure job in local government from our international group and inspired couple of others to join regional local govts
Barb Smallwood
What town do you reside: Carnamah
What do you love about your town: Lots of opportunities to get involved – good sporting facilities
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Annual community event run by youth for youth. (Re)connection with agriculture and town residents
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Distance and number of people
What do you want people to know about your town? Plenty to get involved in. Living in a small town is about contributing not just rocking up
What other towns inspire you and why? Coorow. Beautiful historical precinct. Very active shire with community development projects underway
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. n/a
Jasmine Marsh
What town do you reside: Geraldton
What do you love about your town: It’s the gateway to so much more I am north Mid-West, small business opportunity
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? More youth engagement in community programs and initiatives
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Access to medical services
What do you want people to know about your town? n/a
What other towns inspire you and why? Mullewa. The community spirit and love for their town
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I really enjoy embroidery
Stacey Heelan
What town do you reside: Mullewa
What do you love about your town: The people and the services we have i.e. a hospital and post office
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Have some strategies for involving youth in our town
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Access to affordable groceries
What do you want people to know about your town? We have fantastic schools, architecture and art
What other towns inspire you and why? Three Springs. They have amazing facilities
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I love video games and I am a giant nerd.
Jenna Denton
What town do you reside: Geraldton
What do you love about your town: Diverse cultures and community people
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Connection and shared experiences to support ideas across areas
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Sustainable services and programming
What do you want people to know about your town? The people and community feeling
What other towns inspire you and why? Small towns/shires ability to be agile and progressive
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I was a high level tennis player
Navajo Tay
What town do you reside: Gero/Mullewa
What do you love about your town: Beach (Gero) Young People (Mully)
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? More connections and ability to work together
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Access to services and transparency regarding programs
What do you want people to know about your town? Young people aren’t inherently bad or criminals. They are funny, smart, and talented
What other towns inspire you and why? My hometown in New Zealand. The integration of culture and policy
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I help tun the Mullewa Youth Centre and the young people have taught me how to play pool
Robin Spencer
What town do you reside: Perenjori
What do you love about your town: The freedom, peace, openness and people
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? More connections of people and groups. Progress association to reestablish
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Enough volunteers for groups. Housing for workers
What do you want people to know about your town? Vibrant, friendly, unique landscape and history
What other towns inspire you and why? All towns having something about them that makes them special
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. Golf champion. All round apprentice
Nadine Eva
What town do you reside: Three Springs
What do you love about your town: The people and facilities
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Reinvigorate the community. Get positive volunteering back to help create a place we love to live in
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Housing for staff. Lack of quality housing makes it hard to attract staff/industry/trades/business
What do you want people to know about your town? Fabulous place to live with great services and some wonderful people
What other towns inspire you and why? n/a
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I umpired a netball match between the Singapore Under 21 team and a Western Australia State League team
Chris Lane
What town do you reside: Three Springs
What do you love about your town: The potential to be what/who you want to be
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Re-connection of community members. Investment in new business/enterprises
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Apathy. Declining population
What do you want people to know about your town? n/a
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I love spinning wool
Margaret Rowe
What town do you reside: Mingenew
What do you love about your town: The community
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? To come together as one and bring more families into our town
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Not enough businesses
What do you want people to know about your town? How welcoming our town is
What other towns inspire you and why? Corrow. For its historical display
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I have a collection on teddy bears
Ruben Dring
What town do you reside: Carnamah
What do you love about your town: Amount of sport available to play
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? An annual event to be organised with revolving around sport or a notable historical event
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Population decrease getting numbers to get involved
What do you want people to know about your town? Soon to be the home of worlds largest tractor
What other towns inspire you and why? Minegnew. Sense of community in the town evident through the main street
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. Just won a flag up the rocs
Haylie Collins
What town do you reside: Morawa
What do you love about your town: We have a great community where people look out for one another. Good facilities.
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Build on already existing strengths. Improve youth engagement. Improve aesthetics of town to encourage people to stop in town. Improve relations between generations in terms of committees.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Not enough people willing to give their time to community and committees à burnout. Access to opportunities and support
What do you want people to know about your town? It’s full of great people and fantastic facilities
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin. It’s progressive, positive and innovative
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional.
Julian Canny
What town do you reside: Geraldton
What do you love about your town: It’s optimism and creativity
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? Re-setting of perceived barriers to do-ing
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Attitudes
What do you want people to know about your town? We were recognised as a national creative hotspot in the 2016 consensus
What other towns inspire you and why? Ravensthorpe. Arts and culture focused
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I have a extensive background in merchandising/business development
Helen Ansell
What town do you reside: Mullewa
What do you love about your town: Aboriginal culture, proximity to Geraldton. Wildflowers, bush, cost of living, community, great school, local doctor
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? ?? Maybe a core group to form to put into action ideas brought up
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Declining population
What do you want people to know about your town? Positive stories instead of negative media
What other towns inspire you and why? Carnamah – North Midlands project
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I don’t bake my own muffins in the Gallery (haha I get asked all the time)
Julie Freeman
What town do you reside: Mullewa
What do you love about your town: Mullewa has the most stunning natural environment and built hentage
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? The development of a community strategic plan which will add long term value, not just gloss the top. Actions taken to implement the plan – the doing not just the talking. Ultimately, I want to see Mullewa growing and thriving
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Population decline. Housing for workers. Getting investment in us, instead of being bypassed as we facilitate the wealth of the state.
What do you want people to know about your town? Mullewa is bursting with potential, we just need some help to realise it
What other towns inspire you and why? Perenjori – getting stuff done! Kulin – a small bit of investment going a long way. Dalwallnu – inland industry
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. The first time I volunteered was to be Mullewa’s candidate in the GNFL Miss Football Quest in 1994. Haven’t stopped volunteering since.
Diana Van Buerk
What town do you reside: Carnamah
What do you love about your town: I chose to live here after the cyclone. I love the friendliness and down-to-earth attitude of people. I like its geographical location
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? I would like me, my team and my community to be more aware of the varied needs and desires of each other. Continue to foster pride in the past with potential for future
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Don’t know yet – have only been in the small town for one year
What do you want people to know about your town? That it’s a “rock solid” community, meaning that its been built on solid foundations with ongoing commitment to total wellbeing for all
What other towns inspire you and why? I’ve enjoyed visiting all the towns for this Cluster Muster round and have enjoyed having my eyes opened and welcomed
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I am resilient and determined and think that rural Western Australia is the best place in the whole world to live!
Jude Sutherland
Jude has lived & farmed in Perenjori for the past 15 years and has been involved with farming all her life.
Jude says growing up on the family farm in the district provided her with a great deal of knowledge of the issues facing communities, the people and the activities and approaches that motivate them.
Jude has a special interest in conservation practices to protect the land for future generations.
She has previously worked in organisations focused on enhancing biodiversity, sustainability of the land and communities within the region.
Collaboration between groups and individuals is high on Jude’s agenda to achieve a common goal.
Jude was elected to the Council for the Shire of Perenjori in 2020 and served as Deputy Chair for the last 3 years.
Prior to this she was the Perenjori P&C President for 4 years and was on the School Finance Committee serving as Chairperson on the Perenjori School Board for 3 years.
She has also served on the CRC committee for 6 years before finishing up.