STROUD community groups and residents have united in a history-making initiative.
Close to 200 gathered at the Rural Aid Community Builders event at the Stroud Country Club on Thursday 20 March.
Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone – (02) 4981 8882.
Email – media@newsofthearea.com.au
The workshop drew people from across Stroud, Stroud Road, Booral, and nearby villages, and was part of the Rural Aid Community Development program, which is designed to promote a sense of empowerment and a “can-do” attitude in rural towns.
The Rural Aid program began in June 2024, and seeks to supply communities with the skills to build individual leaders while strengthening social connections and community bonds.
“We want to see different groups in town working together, bringing the community together, especially as we saw a lot of local groups and activities drop off post-COVID,” program co-organiser Rachel Barry, told News Of The Area.
“A key exercise on the night was “asset mapping”, where attendees collaborated to identify what we already have that is under-utilised, or could be built upon.”
Among the areas for improvement were Stroud’s apparent lack of “bumping into” places, as well as activities for children.
Rachel and the Stroud Community Hub, a precursor organisation that led to the Rural Aid event, have already begun constructing a dynamic Community Calendar, keeping track of events in and around town that many had not been aware of before.
“The aim of Thursday’s meeting was to gather a diverse cross-section of the community in one room,” Emma Mellows, another Hub member, told NOTA.
“This collaboration will help us identify the most impactful project for our town, guiding us in launching our community-led initiatives.
“We had a phenomenal response from the community, almost a quarter of our residents came to participate in the community opportunity workshop, setting a new record with Rural Aid.”
Key interests raised on the night included: establishing 5km walking tracks and the potential of a parkrun; river access; developing eco-tourism in the area; farmers markets and a gym; establishing a Stroud website; and getting a pedestrian crossing.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
