Sustaining Rural Communities Conference 2012 set for Evening 18th 19th and 20th April 2012 at the Crossing Theatre in Narrabri  please put this in your diary and check the website www.sustainingruralcommunities.com.au  for updates on speakers and program.

Aboriginal Business Mentoring Program

Thanks to Roxanne Smith for details of this interesting business development initiative from NSW. Certainly a comprehensive support initiative. Click here for flyer.  

From the Bank of Ideas Newsletter

All Together Now: How Co-operatives Are Born Again as Communities Help Themselves

Many thanks to Alan Greig of the Mercury Centre for this wonderful article on the role of community cooperatives in Australia. Besides being a great overview, it gives details of three communities who have used the model to return a hardware service to the town (Casterton, Victoria) , establish Australia’s first community owned renewable energy farm (Hepburn, Victoria) and create a community health service (West Belconnen, ACT).  This article is from the Bank of IDEAS Newsletter

Click here to read.

Shepparton Community Development Conference

The City of Greater Shepparton (Victoria) are organising an amazing community development event in September entitled “Inspiring communities- Building the Community from the Inside Out”. It is guaranteed to be quite an unconventional event.

Click here to get more details.

Babinda a Rural Town

Babinda is one of the great small towns of Australia. It has a long tradition of local residents being pro active in designing and implementing initiatives to ensure their positive future. The Babinda Taskforce and local Community Bank are just two examples. Battered by Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011, and the news that their historic Sugar Mill will close with the loss off 60 jobs. The town has responded with its characteristic gutsy nature.

Click here to read about their story.

Confirmed Speakers for Conference

Hey,
We have confirmed speakers for the 2nd Sustaining Rural Communities Conference to be held at the Crossing Theatre 5th and 6th April 2011.

Tony Windsor - Independent Member for New England
Jock Laurie - President of the National Farmers Federation
Mal Peters - Chair of Regional Development Australia Northern Inland
Monica Attard - ABC Journalist
Register Now, at the website, Conference is Free
for more information contact kate.schwager@cottoncrc.org.au

Sustaining Rural Communities Conference Website

New Website and new date

Tuesday the 5th April and Wednesday 6th April at the Crossing Theatre in Narrabri.

Check the website out.