Building on from 1893, Australia’s history, young people, leadership and the contribution of rural and regional Australia to the nation are crucial for the sound future of the nation.
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That’s what special guest speaker at the fifth annual Rotary Club of Corowa Tim Fischer AM Oration on January 24, immediate past Federal Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan AO told the 60 attendees in the Oddfellows Hall.
“Tim Fischer was a great leader,” she said. “So too was Mr A A Piggin who chaired the public meeting in this hall on the 31 of July 1893 and enabled Dr John Quick a delegate from the Bendigo branch of the Australian Natives Association to move his ‘people’s federation’ motion which was to change both the direction and the pace of federation and led to Corowa becoming known as the birthplace of federation.
“And 127 years ago, I suspect the people who met here in this hall had a vision for what they wanted – a Federation and the how – they wanted to have a voice, and they took control – forming grass roots, community based – local federation leagues and organised a great conference.
“To be a great nation, and to build the Australia we want, I believe we must truly know our history and be reconciled with it.”
Cathy spoke in some detail about the local aboriginal history, in particular the Bangarang – also known as Pangarang – people and of Bangarang Park in Edwards Street Corowa.
She posed many questions, including: Who are our local aboriginal people? Can we think about how we want to be involved in discussion? What is our contribution?
On leadership, Cathy said leaders show us the way, provide support and encouragement, help us understand our environment and see a way through sometimes very confusing circumstances.
“Who are those great and good people who will guide us on this journey?” she asked.
In her leadership journey, Cathy was “blessed” to be a participant of the 18-months Australian Rural Leadership Program.
“In Victoria we have a series of community based leadership courses operating under the umbrella of Community Leadership Victoria, with the specific task of build a strong leadership base in our rural communities.
“The Alpine Valleys Community Leadership program covers nine shires in north-east Victoria and has been skilling up and supporting leaders since 1998 with 391 graduates.
“While there are a number of one off, ad hoc leadership programs operating in NSW to my knowledge there is no program dedicated to equipping community leaders with the skills and support they need to do the job.”
Reference was made by Cathy to Federation council’s Youth Council. “But where are the young Rotarians, the young farmers, the young Nationals, young labour or Liberals – where are our young leaders?” she asked.
“How are they learning, who is teaching the leadership skills they need to guide us, and their friends and family into the future?”
Regional Australia holds the answers to many issues facing Australia according to Cathy. “For instance climate change – renewal energy is based in the regions, our rapidly growing cities and population – our regions surely are the answer, food production - it’s us in the regions.
“I believe it was no accident that the Federation movement found its great strength in the regions – in Corowa and Tenterfield. We are motivated!”
And Cathy believes the answers are in our relationships with our young people “particularly the relationship between our young adults and our community institutions”.
“They are the digital generation – they are the connected generation, they are so well educated.
“I leave you with these questions, what do you know of our aboriginal history? Who are the young people you can mentor? How can we formalise leadership development into and across our community?”
Cathy posed these questions because “the Australia we want – the Australia I want – won’t just happen”.
“It needs all of us - rural people, country people, and especially our young people - working from the bottom up as well as top down, actively using our voices and working together to build the road knowing together we could do more."
Corowa so special - Cathy
Corowa played such a significant role leading to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia as mentioned by Cathy McGowan AO in the coverage of the 2020 Tim Fischer AM Oration.
Corowa has always been special to Cathy, starting as a young girl.
“One of my very early memories is of my grandmother Nell Terrill, who lived in Rutherglen, taking me shopping to Corowa,” she said.
“My brother Peter’s legal business was based in Corowa and it was a regular ‘must do’, to come and visit him, to go to the club for a meal, and have a swim, family catch-up and picnic by the river.
“As my mother bred thorough bred horses on her farm in the Indigo Valley for many years the highlight of my social calendar was the Corowa Picnics where I was a member for many, many years. One year, a four horse race, with one of Mum’s horses did well.”
Cathy’s address praised
The Rotary Club of Corowa always attracts an excellent speaker to its annual Tim Fischer Oration on the Friday night to start the Corowa Federation Festival weekend.
This year’s fifth annual oration was no exception with well-known local Cathy McGowan AO delivering what is about the usual 30-minute long speech.
Born in Albury 66 years ago and raised on her parents’ dairy farm in the Indigo Valley, the highly educated and knowledgeable guest speaker delivered a 30-minute address which contained so much on so many aspects of local, state and national levels.
Master of Ceremonies David Potts said: “We’re very lucky to have her in our community.
“It was an enlightening and thought-provoking presentation.”