Community Forums

By Caitlin Buckley What more can be achieved when our local communities work together to address the unmet needs surfacing from the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions of 2020 and 2021, have affected the wellbeing of many members in our community, either directly or indirectly. Seeking help can be difficult in the best of times – so much information, so many websites to navigate! Finding useful information, resources, and support services can be a challenge for the most able and digitally savvy among us. Knowing where to start, who can help, and what services we are entitled to requires patience, time, and knowledge that not everyone has. The presumption of digital literacy and accessibility, from service groups and government departments, can contribute to an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability, despair and isolation, which many are feeling. With that in mind, I recently spoke with Raylene Fordham – Anglesea and District Community Bank (ADCB) board member – to discover how our local communities are coping with the COVID-19 challenges. Raylene informed me that the outcome of a 2020 Bendigo Bank survey identified major community concerns about the impact of the global pandemic: income loss, sponsorship and membership reduction, inter-group communication gaps, health deterioration, physical distancing regulations and their implementation, skills and resources shortages, morale and momentum diminishment, and limited knowledge and understanding of Government COVID-19 Recovery Assistance grants. To consider and address these concerns, and how we could all work better together at a local level, a Digital Community Forum was established – a collaboration between ADCB, the Anglesea Community Network (ACN) and the Surf Coast Shire Council (SCSC). The forum would provide an opportunity for local community groups to meet, share and explore existing strategies, build connections, extend networks, and prepare and plan for immediate and long-term issues. The SCSC saw the potential for a Digital Forum to be an asset across the Shire, and agreed to collaborate with the ADCB to fund a pilot forum, via their COVID-19 Recovery Grant. Given the significant negative impact of the pandemic on our local communities, it was no surprise when representatives from almost 60 local community groups, clubs and businesses, joined the first digital forum held via Zoom in October 2020.

Forum attendees were encouraged to recognise and acknowledge the many positive initiatives already established to meet the needs of the community; identify the most urgent concerns for their groups; and consider challenges, opportunities, and issues that may arise in the future.

Seven main concerns emerged from the forum, and almost replicated the larger survey results: financial hardship, declining health, changing demographics, waning membership/ sponsorship, volunteer uptake, COVID restriction compliance, and a loss of morale and momentum among groups and individuals alike.

Attendees also acknowledged a ‘need to identify those in the community who need help – who are we NOT seeing?’ In a post-forum survey, respondents identified the need to bridge the perceived divide between permanent and non-permanent residents and create better connection and communication.

Of paramount concern was who – or which groups – could identify, reach out, and assist those in need to access recovery assistance programs and grants, and facilitate referrals between individuals and groups. A second forum held in late October expanded on these themes, and considered what more could be done to help our community recover. Many proactive ideas were mooted: an ‘adopt a neighbour’ program, garden and home maintenance help, meal

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provision, encouragement and support for local shopping, music, activities, and events.

By sharing knowledge, information and resources, many significant outcomes were achieved though the forums.

An interactive Digital Community Directory – a one-stop online community information resource, to complement the hard copy that Anglesea Community House (ACH) already provides to permanent and nonpermanent residents, will be linked to the recently relaunched Community House website.

The Directory will hopefully alleviate the confusion and tedium of trawling the internet to find current and correct local information, contacts and services.

Other positive community initiatives arising from the forums include: educating and supporting various groups to offer online meetings via a digital platform; the sharing of COVIDSafe plans for clubs and groups; holding an online raffle run by the Lions Club; and the Anglesea ‘Shop Local’ campaign. A social highlight was a vibrant community street party held at Point Roadknight, which provided some much-needed relief from the COVID restrictions, for the 80+ attendees!

Community leaders have stepped up, reached out, and proactively tackled the many local issues arising from the current pandemic. We are strengthened as a community by their actions.

In the face of any future challenges, a clearer road to recovery has been provided for us all.

One initiative from the recent community forums, is an online Community Noticeboard and Community Directory on the recently relaunched website for Anglesea Community House.

Banking on our Community

By Rob Cameron Bendigo Community Bank ®

The Anglesea Bowling Club played host to the recent Triples for Triers Com munity Bowling Challenge and, yet again, it was a huge success!

They had 24 teams of three players compete in a relaxed, funfilled environment, with DJ Gerard Morrison pumping out some classic rock music to inspire the participants.

The delightful aroma of an Aussie barbecue wafted over the rinks, enticing the players to support the fundraising efforts of the club, and the hard-working ladies behind the counter were more than happy to accommodate the hungry horde.

The local Anglesea and District Community Bank was again a very proud sponsor of the event, and to play on the recently renovated second rink was another fulfilling moment for the staff and associates of the bank.

The rink is named after the Community Bank, as the profits generated by the banking of the Anglesea and District locals allowed for the Community Bank’s $20,000 donation to the project.

A New Home for the Community Bank

The Community Bank will be moving into new premises shortly, and some may have noticed a little action at the old Rose’s restaurant building at the opposite end of the shopping strip to where we are currently located.

The double-storey space is now undergoing some minor internal renovations, before a major overhaul is completed over the next few months, in preparation for the scheduled opening of our new branch in June.

The new premises will have extended office space for customer consultation, and all current services, including the ATM, will be relocated to the new site.

The tremendous support the Anglesea and District Community Bank has received from our local customers over its 15 years in business, has allowed for community organisations to share in over $2,800,000 in grants and donations, as well as shareholders receiving over $1,000,000 in return on their investment.

We hope to continue to grow our connection with local people and help keep our region one of the most sought-after destinations for visitors and permanent residents alike.