Heyfield Nomination – Power to the People 2017
- Practices ongoing dialogue and broad-based community participation
Description: behaviours that value diversity and encourage active resident dialogue, participation and community ownership of the future.
For a town with a population of just under 2000 people, Heyfield is supported by an incredible amount of volunteers. On any given day you will find volunteers giving their time to the Heyfield Wetlands, Community Planning Group, Community Resource Centre, Heyfield and District Museum, War Memorial Hall, Lions Club, RSL, Senior Citizens, Cemetery Trust, Gordon Street Reserve, Traders and Tourism Association, Hospital Axillary, Ambulance Axillary, Heyfield Safety Group, SES, CFA, Men’s Shed and various sporting groups.
The Community Planning Group volunteers encourage resident participation in decision making through consultation to produce the Heyfield Community Plan.
The Heyfield Resource Centre annually surveys residents and businesses to ensure they are offering relevant courses for community development and the Traders and Tourism Association consult the community on decisions impacting on the town’s future wellbeing.
Resident participation in decisions that affected community wellbeing came to the forefront when it was announced that the ASH timber mill, the town’s largest employer, was facing closure. Over 1000 people attended local meetings to express their concerns to local and state government, which culminated to log trucks and hundreds of people descending on Melbourne CBD to make their voice heard.
Heyfield residents are kept informed and can share information through the Heyfield News. There are 500 copies printed each week, which are distributed throughout Heyfield, Cowwarr, Tinamba and Newry plus residents in more remote locations can access the News online – we even have one subscriber in Scotland!
Information is also shared on Facebook through local Buy, Swap and Sell, Visit Heyfield and Heyfield News pages.
- Fosters commitment to place
Description: behaviours that strengthen resident affinity and connection to their community, environment and local economy.
Heyfield has a reputation of being a friendly, welcoming town. The local Wetland Information Centre, which is run by volunteers, greets visitors and show-cases events and regional highlights. Visitors at the Gordon Street Reserve RV Park are greeted by a local volunteer with a Welcome to Heyfield package that encourages visitors to shop local and points out ‘must-see’ things to do.
The town has a varied and long, running calendar of events including the Duck Cup, Food and Wine Festival, Vintage Machinery Rally, monthly market and Australia Day Dance. These are not only well attended by locals, but visitors from interstate and even overseas.
Local businesses are strongly supported through the quarterly ‘meat sale’ and shop local coupon offers. The recently developed ‘pop-up’ craft shop is a place where locals can sell their craft work, with over $10,000 in sales generated over the last 12 months that has gone back into the community. The local Resource Centre is an incubator for start-up businesses including an IT Repairs and Support business and community nursery.
In 2016 the community began a fundraising project to purchase the local post office to house the Heyfield museum, which was bursting at the seams. Within 6 months, locals had raised $175,000 to purchase it and the museum opened in early 2017.
- Builds connections and collaboration
Description: behaviours that encourage collaborative planning and action, networking and strong relationships between residents, organisations, businesses and communities.
In 2015 the Jooshing Heyfield project built connections throughout the community. A progressive dinner along the main street encouraged people of all ages to have their say in how they can “joosh” Heyfield to make it more attractive and vibrant. This resulted in art installations, painting and flower boxes being located around the town.
In October this year the Heyfield and District Community Bank celebrated putting $1 million back into community projects. When the Heyfield Hospital and Nursing Home faced closure, the community lobbied local and state MPs to keep it open.
The community also pushed for the development of a local RV site which faced some opposition from concerned locals. However with community consultation, once those opposed where briefed on the benefits this will bring to the town, the project was fully supported and is now a popular stop over.
The Apex Park upgrade was a collaboration between the Wellington Shire Council and the community as was the building of the Skate Park, redevelopment of the main street, speed limit reductions and parking outside the shops.
The Lions Club community bus is greatcollaboration. The bus is available to pick up seniors and transport them to appointments, shops and events plus to other community groups. This created new opportunities for Heyfield including a sell-out school holiday program to Licola Village for local children.
- Knows itself and builds on existing assets
Description: behaviours that discover, map and connect the capacities, passions, resources and relationships of the community.
The people of Heyfield know how fortunate they are to have so many assets for a small town. Many of these were community driven which instils ownership and pride with locals. An example of this is when workers from the Mill sacrificed two shillings from their weekly wage to go towards to development of a swimming pool. The community backed this campaign with a fundraising campaign of its own and the Heyfield Pool was born.
Another community driven assets connection was the drive to keep an ambulance and paramedic in Heyfield. The Ambulance Axillary developed a space to house them and now these resources are called upon to respond to accidents not just locally but further afield to Traralgon and Licola.
The community also supports two primary schools, a hospital, aged care centre, medical centre that operates five days a week and an on-call emergency line plus a Neighbourhood House. For a town of under 2000 people this is a strong indicator of the awareness and support for assets.
The Heyfield Wetlands is the crown jewel of the town. Hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of in-kind dollars has seen this bare common transformed into a haven for wildlife, place for environmental education and recreation. Local earth movers generously give their time and equipment to develop new areas, further enhancing the area for generations to come.
Heyfield residents are proud of their assets. The town drives development projects and doesn’t wait for hand-outs from the Shire. Residents are extremely generous with fundraising and donating their time to get the job done.
- Shapes its future
Description: behaviours that enable a shared community vision of the future, as reflected in practical community goals, action plans and ranked priorities, coupled with a desire not to jeopardise the well-being of future generations.
The community of Heyfield helps shape the town’s future. In the 1990s the town did not have a nursing home and the elderly were being forced to leave their town, their friends and family. The Federal Government gave the community three months to raise $835,000 as the local contribution. The funds were raised with three days to spare and the nursing home (25 beds) was built. Today it has 60 beds.
When the town needed a new logo, everyone was invited to supply an idea. When they CPG were investigating a plan for the town the Primary Schools integrated this into art classes and the kids created posters on how they wanted Heyfield to be in the future. This was placed on display in the main street for all to see.
In 2010 the community identified a need to become more sustainable. This led to the Sustainable Heyfield project. Houses were given flags for reaching certain environmental targets and a bulk solar buy was developed which resulted in around 300 homes installing panels. Community life was enhanced as people shared ideas, helped and encouraged others to adopt more sustainable practices. The program received the United Nations World Environment Day award.
When bushfires devastated the area, the community quickly responded. A social media campaign encouraged people to donate food, clothing, furniture and emergency accommodation. This was so successful that they were turning donations away and greatly contributed to enhancing community life and strengthening bonds.
- Acts with idea and opportunity obsession
Description: behaviours that foster a never ending search for new and appropriate ideas, development possibilities and internal and external resources.
Lifelong learning is encouraged in Heyfield. The local Community Resource Centre offers educational opportunities for everyone, from short courses to lifestyle classes. Lifelong learning is also encouraged within our community groups as older members mentor younger ones.
Businesses think outside the square and form new ideas to support the community. When the local timber mill had excess offcuts they invited locals to buy trailer loads of wood at a heavily discounted price. With a SEIFA decile of 2, indicating economic disadvantage, this initiative is an important resource for the town.
Financial assistance also comes in the form of bi-monthly free financial counselling. This program was driven by locals in response to the ASH uncertainty and provided individuals and families with support to gain financial security in times of uncertainty.
Community groups have formed positive relationships with philanthropic organisations. The Wetlands, Community Resource Centre, Bowls Club and War Memorial Hall have all been given financial support to complete projects to benefit the community.
Many positive relationships have been formed with outside organisations. Some examples include the community capitalising on cycle tourism. Heyfield recognises the benefits this will bring to the town and has begun working with the Gippsland Plain Rail Trail committee, Gippsland Mountain Bike Club and Cyclewyaz touring holidays to turn Heyfield into a cycle friendly town.
- Embraces change and takes responsibility
Description: behaviours that strengthen the ability of the community to cope with change and recover from crises (eg economic diversification, local ownership, biological diversity, social support networks etc ) coupled with a mindset that focuses on optimism, belief, expectation, hope and ‘we can do it’.
As mentioned previously, the residents of Heyfield aren’t the kind to sit back and wait for things to happen. This has earnt them a ‘can-do’ attitude. This resilience and initiative has driven many community projects including the future certainty of the hospital and aged care, a town paramedic and ambulance, upgrading the skate park, wetlands, swimming pool and community garden to name a few.
The residents of Heyfield fight for what is best for the town and this came to the forefront when the ASH mill faced closure. Residents refuse to give-up in the face of uncertainty and band together when people are suffering from personal tragedy. Numerous families in need have been supported through fundraising drives. A group of locals provide Christmas presents for families and children suffering hardship and an annual toy run stops in town.
The Traders and Tourism Association responded to the communities concern about the future of Heyfield if the mill was to close by working with individuals and businesses to create a tourism strategy for the town. This gives Heyfield ownership over its future and puts in place steps to recover from crisis.
- Generates leadership
Description: behaviours that continuously expands and renews the leadership capacity of the community
Leadership is encouraged in Heyfield and we recognise outstanding individuals with the Australia Day Awards.
There are many resources for skill development; from numerous sporting clubs, a local Neighbourhood House and volunteer organisations that willingly welcome and train new members.