Strathbogie to host RCV Summit

24 February 2020

Strathbogie Shire Council will host the 2020 Rural Council’s Victoria Summit in May, with the theme Does Size Matter? Doing More with Less.

The forum is an opportunity for councillors and local government staff from across the state to join with business and industry leaders, economic and community development officers, academics and education providers to collectively discuss the challenges faced by rural municipalities.

The event will take place at Mitchelton in Nagambie from May 6 to 8.

Strathbogie Shire Mayor Cr Amanda McClaren said Strathbogie was proud to be hosting such an important event on the rural Victorian calendar.

“This summit aims to equip all these leaders with the information, skills and capacity to respond to the ever-changing environment we are facing,’’ she said.

Ms McClaren said the theme Does Size Matter? Doing More with Less significantly reflected what local government was trying to achieve by addressing national and global issues with limited time and resources.

“The ability to do more with less has never been more important,’’ she said.

“The Summit program will showcase how small organisations can overcome size and resource funding constraints to achieve positive outcomes for their communities.’’

Chair of Rural Councils Victoria, Cr Mary-Ann Brown, said the Summit will focus on delegates engaging in group discussions and information sharing.

“It is quite rare for so many people from across the state to get together to discuss how we can all work better to serve our communities, so we’re really pleased to be bringing everyone together in Nagambie to do this,” she said.

“We hope attendees will leave with great insights on how councils and other community organisations can support their communities to grow and flourish,’’ Cr Brown said.

The summit features an impressive line-up of speakers including Craig Reucassel from ABC TV series War on Waste, climate change specialist Charlotte Turner. Speakers also include Victorian Gender and Sexuality Commissioner and Violet Town local Rowena Allen, and the Hon. Adem Somyurek MP, Victorian Minister for Small Business and Local Government.

In a Rural Councils Victoria Summit first, a Rural Youth Summit for those aged 18 to 25 will be held to coincide and integrate with the Summit proper, recognising the importance of this demographic to rural Victoria.

The event is proudly delivered by Rural Councils Victoria, the peak body representing Victoria’s rural local councils, in partnership with Strathbogie Shire Council.