Strengthening Our Communities
Since 2007 MSF has been successful in obtaining annual grants from the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, to assist rural communities in drought affected areas. In this financial year they have guaranteed a further 3 years of funding ($172,338 x 3 including GST). Lois Beckwith has worked with the MSF Board and staff for many years previously delivering the project in the field and she has been engaged by MSF to undertake this years implementation. The project commenced on July 1 and a full plan for the three year project is required by the end of July.
The program continues its aim of providing support to farming communities and to empower locals to tackle local issues and formulate positive local initiatives which will support the individual, the family, and the wider farming community. This round will focus more on capacity building through people and less on community assets of a physical nature. The buzz words include leadership development, skill and knowledge development, volunteering, networks, partnerships, and holding community events across all age groups.
In keeping with our vision of dynamic, profitable, and sustainable farming we are able to access significant funding to improve our capacity to be better farmers in coping with continuous change. The project will help our communities to remain vigorous and sustainable.
Project Objectives
The project has the following objectives:
1. Assist small farming communities to identify capacity building opportunities and plan activities which will be driven by local volunteers.
2. To form partnerships to tackle local issues and formulate local activities (organize events, social gatherings, workshops, seminars, field days, fun nights, etc)
3. Build skills and knowledge amongst farmers, family members and the wider rural community.
4. Assist the community to participate in volunteering, mentoring and leadership development.
MSF is concerned with long term sustainability, which includes supporting the farming community as a whole, including social activity of the people and towns and services on which the health of the community depends. MSF therefore fully support and will continue to support families, promote resilience and, coping skills and change management skills of our members. MSF aims to help farmers survive the downturn and promote continuity so that improved farm practices and knowledge will not be lost. It is important that over twelve years of research which developed more productive sustainable farming systems continues to be adopted and extended across all farms.
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Board Member Letter
