creating space to connect, communicate & create
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COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
Paterson, Vacy & Gresford Villages
Village Values
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Regional Connections
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How it All Began - the Community Builders Program
This website was built entirely by volunteers and is a space for all community members. It's a platform to help us collate and share information about how we interconnect, so we can better plan for our towns and collaborate with others in the region.
The idea was born at an event promoting the Community Builders Program which is running in the region. The program is designed to teach and inspire communities to take charge of their own planning. It is facilitated by a leading international consultancy on this topic, 'Bank of I.D.E.A.S.’, which has partnered with Rural Aid to bring this opportunity to rural and remote areas across Australia.
Imagine if we all worked closer together to maximise successful grant requests or found ways to make it easier for Council to work with us on resources? Helped the community prepare and respond to natural disasters? Or found a way to better acknowledge the army of volunteers whose kindness and generosity make living here feel so special? Imagine if we worked smart instead of hard?
No one knows what we need, quite like we do!
The role of facilitators is to bring a round table and save you a seat. They help prepare people to plan - the community are the architects.
Who are the facilitators in Paterson, Vacy & Gresford? *Paterson* Julie Overton, Zolatan Lyall & Jacky Keena *Vacy* Sian Ineson 0422 137 655 Peter Kleining (PK) 0403 865 325 *Gresford* Jim Doyle 0407 307 800 Gresford District Community Group Why do a drop down? For transparency (always) and to emphasise that the plan belongs to all of us.
Source: Story of Place™ by Regenesis
Rivers of Connection
Community planning isn't just about building structures; it's about discovering who we are and what makes our place truly special. The 'Story of Place' approach helps us go beyond surface-level planning, guiding us to connect deeply with our environment, history, and each other.
By sharing and listening to stories, we uncover the values and unique qualities that define our community. These stories become the threads that weave together our sense of belonging, helping us create a plan that honours our roots and paves the way for a self-sustaining, vibrant future. This is also the video that inspired Cameron Archer to write "The Magic Valley".
Glimpses of Home
Many of these beautiful images were captured by the talented Dave Williams - find more here.