Flynn Ward needs our local leaders. They volunteer their time to ‘step up’, to inspire others, nurture their communities, keep everyone enthused, engaged and motivated.
I believe that leadership is a craft, much like craftmanship, penmanship and all the other ‘ships’ out there. The more you practice, the better you get at it, all though some may argue that with certain politicians, this is far from true.
In 2018 I completed the Leading Excellence course in Maryborough. This was the first time I’d ever attended a leadership course and I felt like I had found my ‘tribe’, leaving me hungry for more. I was just so inspiring to connect with other likeminded people, many of whom I’m still in contact with now.
I am by no means an expert in leadership and wholeheartedly believe that you never stop learning. The day I stop learning, is the day I die. Because of this, I’m humbled and grateful to have been accepted into the 2022 cohort of LEAD Loddon Murray’s 9-month long Community Leadership Program (LMCLP).
We had our official launch a couple of weeks ago and it was impressive to be surrounded by so many community minded people.
This weekend just gone, I attended the first 3-day intensive weekend, one of 5 that makes up the LMCLP program. It was a fabulous weekend and I learned so much that by the end my brain was going 100m/ph and hasn’t stopped.
LEAD Loddon Murray is government funded and the LMCLP is now in its 24th year. To date, 550 graduates are out there serving their communities and in the last 4 years, 5 Central Goldfields Shire individuals have graduated.
Just last week, Minister for Regional Development came to Maryborough to announce $1.8 million for the Regional Community Leadership Program. Maryborough was handpicked as the venue because of it’s great results seen in the area both through LMCLP as well as the Leading Excellence Maryborough Program (LEM).
The region covers ten local government areas including:
- Macedon Ranges
- Mt Alexander
- Central Goldfields
- City of Great Bendigo
- Campaspe
- Gannawarra
- Loddon
- Buloke
- Swan Hill
- Northern Grampians
Seven shires in the catchment areas are Program Partners ie sponsors, and interestingly, of all the shires that are in the region, Central Goldfields is the only shire that fits wholly in the catchment area, but we are unfortunately not Program Partners.
It is now my dream to see the Central Goldfields Shire become an official program Sponsor. I see this partnership as a vital investment in our shire’s future and aim that as a Program Partner, one emerging leader residing in the Central Goldfields Shire will be able to complete the LMCLP in the future.
