Dear Editor,
Hi from the other side of the world. My parents have been sending me your editorials, which I’ve been reading with great interest.
I was born and raised in Glen Innes. It’s still my family home, and some part of me never quite left, so watching these editorials ask what kind of future the town wants and motivating people towards action, has been deeply inspiring.
I’ve spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of community resilience and systems change. What’s clear from this work is that thriving communities are the ones where local people are involved in shaping and driving the futures of their place. They are engaged, innovative, collaborative, invested and taking action. They’re not waiting for something to happen to them, they’re driving the agendas of their communities and transforming them in the process.
Wonderful examples exist across Australia and the world. None of it is fanciful, the ideas, lessons and outcomes are already there. These editorials have outlined a viable, thriving future for Glen Innes. The ideas are entirely possible and could have enormous ripple effects for the community and the town’s future. The task now is taking the steps towards it.
Who’s in?
Isabel FitzGerald, Uruguay
