MADRA Executive Appointments

Raising Community Voices:

Mallacoota Appoints Executive Recovery Team

10 June 2020: Mallacoota, Victoria
 
Community aspirations, enthusiasm and promise have buoyed the newly elected committee of the Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA), which is delighted to announce the appointment of an Executive team amid steps to shape the region’s recovery.

While it may be unchartered seas, in a changing environment, the Committee is determined that its ‘community led’ model will be just that – the best chance the community has to come together and strive for what is best – and most needed - for local people and businesses. Forging ahead with its 764-member strong Association, the Committee last night elected its Executive, comprising of Chair – David Appleton, Deputy-Chair – Jenny Lloyd, Treasurer – Graham Dempster, Secretary – Trindi Suratman and Media Liaison Officers – Brodie Gaudion and Bryce Watts-Parker.

The MADRA Committee members were elected after a rigorous and independent election held through the Victorian Electoral Commission last month, in which an incredibly high voting response rate of 88% was received, with 44 locals standing for election. 

The six-month mark post bushfires is biting hard. The coming-together of locals will be an important focus for MADRA over the coming months, as it urges additional people to support Working Groups, and develop a strong calendar of projects and events to look forward to. It is envisaged that Working Groups will form under the current pillars of Social, Built, Economic and Natural Environments, as well as Aboriginal Culture and Healing. Other working groups will be Communications, and a dedicated Genoa/Gypsy Point/Wangarabell and Wallagaraugh group.

A priority area for action is ensuring that people who have lost their homes will have opportunities to reconnect together, share experiences and obtain what is needed. A clear driver behind MADRA’s committee is the responsibility that they ‘don’t want to let anyone down’. 

In the first few meetings, MADRA has focused on ensuring that foundations of the Association are correct for the long term. As part of this groundwork, incorporation guidelines, rules, codes and roles are being established, as well as ensuring that all involved understand the varied stakeholders of the Association and partnerships. The Committee will work closely with the Mallacoota District Bushfire Recovery Hub, Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) and East Gippsland Shire Council (EGSC), as well as other groups as needed. Steve Pascoe, Disaster Recovery Mentor, who has been involved from the start in supporting the prior Thinking Group, continues to make himself available to the Committee.

MADRA received a boost last week with the announcement that Methodist Ladies College (MLC), which has strong ties to Mallacoota through its Marshmead campus, had raised over $30,000 for programs to benefit local youth.

Two-way listening and learning will be the key moving forward, hearing different experiences, backgrounds and requirements as the community aims to ‘think boldly’ and build the community’s confidence to shape its own future.