Community Stories – WA Southern Central Wheatbelt Community Builders
It has been a wonderful journey since our program pilot Community Builders program kicked off in mid 2022.
Meeting our Southern Central Wheatbelt Community Builders has been a humbling experience that fills me with anticipation and hope for the future of our small rural towns in Australia.
It has been such an incredible privilege working in partnership with our super passionate small-town enthusiast and facilitator Peter Kenyon from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S while having the colourful Londa Finlayson onboard as our community connector has added an exciting dimension to the mix.
When a group of likeminded, natural leaders come together, sharing visions, goals, and aspirations, the air is electric with enthusiasm and a shared sense of purpose.
We are all inspired and eager to embark on a journey of collective action, knowing that together, we can build a brighter future.
Thanks to every one of our Southern Central Wheatbelt Community Builders who participated throughout the program. You are all amazing!
From Jen Curnow-Trotter – Community Programs Manager (2020 – 2024)
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Brad Flett
What town do you reside: Narrogin
What do you love about your town: Community engagement
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? More younger volunteers, better venues for gymnasts, child services increased, safer community
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Community involvement. Sharing of limited resources of volunteers
What do you want people to know about your town? Arts, Arts and more Arts!!!
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin, sense of community if strong
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I was a Casting Director in the North America Film and Television industry for 8 years
Kerryn Chia
What town do you reside: Darkan
What do you love about your town: The people, the location, the quiet
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? A more cohesive community, and I would love to see a more vibrant main street
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Like every town our biggest challenge at the moment is housing. Lack of housing restricts economic growth and results in people leaving the town
What do you want people to know about your town? I would like people to know where we are located! Also I want them to know how friendly this town and what a great community it is to live in
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin is the town that inspires me the most. They seem to be able to achieve so much!
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I love making holiday itineraries. I have dozens of them for many different holidays all over the world and Australia. I haven’t taken these holidays, but I love to dream!
Lisa Pitman
What town do you reside: Pingelly
What do you love about your town: I love how strongly connected our community is. Everyone knows everyone and are prepared to support one-another at the drop of a hat.
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? I would love to see my town become a destination. A place where people want to come for a stand out attraction/event. But most of all I want the community to have the confidence and courage to become do’ers. Stop waiting for someone else to start something amazing. Take ownership, get your mates together and get [stuff] done.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Lack of rentals and accommodation discourages workers and new people moving to town. Volunteer fatigue
What do you want people to know about your town? We are a great little town to invest in. Very affordable real estate and some exceptional business opportunities available
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin and Gnowangerup, WA, for their brilliant self-drive trials (Tin Horse Highway and Horsepower Highway). They are unique, simple, fun and effective!
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I cannot wink or curl my tongue! However, I am a proud employee of our community owned Bendigo Bank. It’s very rewarding to see our profits re-invested back into local initiatives.
Londa Finlayson
What town do you reside: Wagin
What do you love about your town: Our community spirit, even over the test of time, we have banded together to accomplish great things. We are few, but we are mighty, we are tested, but strong…
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? I think the coming together to appreciate our passion for our community and the future of it’s success. Perhaps a mural, or a monument to really highlight our commitment to the whole concept. A time capsule etc.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? Exhausted volunteers, the “doers” of the town are tired and need help from those who haven’t put their hands up.
What do you want people to know about your town? That Wagin is the GREATEST place on earth to live, we have one of the biggest 6th degrees of separation. We have a strong foundation that is here to grow through the tests of time, change and development.
What other towns inspire you and why? Kulin is the township that are dynamic, driven and going the work. Darkan is another town that are leading the way forward when it comes to caring about the future. A credit to both towns
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional.
Roxanne McNab
What town do you reside: Narrogin
What do you love about your town: I love Narrogin’s relaxed and friendly way of life. The convenience of being close to the city, and the strong sense of community
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? My hope is to see some of our projects in our Action Plan completed and others started. I would love to see increased communication amongst our various groups in Narrogin.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? One of our biggest challenges is to inspire and retain younger volunteers. We also struggle to attract professionals and Doctors to live in our town.
What do you want people to know about your town? Narrogin is a fantastic place for all stages of life – living, working, raising children, and retiring. We have a variety of groups and facilities to cater to different people’s needs.
What other towns inspire you and why? I am inspired by individuals who take action in their towns, and their determination to make a positive impact on the community.
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I have recently become a registered civil celebrant which will allow me to provide another service within our town.
Roger Hitchcock
What town do you reside: Narrogin
What do you love about your town: The people and the lifestyle offered. The town is also only 2 hours from 4 major towns of Bunbury, Mandurah,Rockingham and Perth.
What would you like to see happen for you and your community at the completion of the program? It has been great to see people of the town and region embrace the new ideas. Already we have had the hay bale concert, flaming BBQs and the train is coming back. There is a real interest in promoting our town and region which is a positive.
What’s your biggest challenge living in a small town? There is a need to have some people who do want to see change of any kind to allow others to ‘have a go’ at ideas rather than feel threatened by them.
What do you want people to know about your town? Narrogin does sometimes get a bad publicity but as with all towns there is good and bad but the majority who live here do so because they know it is a good place majority of the time.
What other towns inspire you and why? The region inspires me as a whole. I cvan think of something inspiring about each town. The towns that have achieved have a shire or council that embraces their ideas such as Kulin.
Tell us something unique about you that people may not know, either personal or professional. I really enjoy my rugby union as a spectator and do try to go the world cup events. Also I’m a regular at the Bridgetown blues festival.
