“Resilience” is
something people are more aware of today than ever.
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| Public transport is one of those matters being considered by "Strathbogie Voices". |
It is a word that appears frequently in discussions, private
and public and yet not universally understood.
Many casually introduce the term into discussions seeking
credibility to leave their listeners with the idea that they are “off this time”
and subsequently aware of energy and resource depletion.
However, this casual use and throwaway reference to what in
reality is a complex circumstance, not easily achieved or made a reality by a
heading a one-paragraph note in a report.
Resilience is not something that can be bought, manufactured
or simply demanded in a despotic-sense for it is a way of living that arises from
community bonding and relationship strengthening.
The Euora-based Strathbogie Voices is one small group in north-eastern
Victoria conscious that alone people can do little, but together they can
become a formidable force.
Strathbogie Voices is precisely one of those places from
which resilience grows as it is working to encourage people in its area to be
forward-thinking, collaborative in their initiatives and vocal in their views.
What is happening with Strathbogie Voices fits perfectly
with the template described recently by the Professor of Sociology and the head
of the Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine, Kinds College in
London, Prof Nickolas Rose, during a lecture at the University of Melbourne.
Discussing “Responsible citizens for uncertain times” Prof
Rose told the near-full auditorium about individual and community resilience.
He suggested resilience was not an innate trait, but arose
from strong and bonded communities, cutting across all classes, just as is
happening with Strathbogie Voices, although he was unaware of the group or its
ambitions.
Strathbogie Voices is eager to learn more about its
community’s views and so through a “Community survey” is asking people a series
of questions about life in the Strathbogie Ranges.
People keen to complete the survey should visit Strathbogie
Voices and click on the “community survey” link.
Resilience appeared in discussions on the ABC’s Radio
National this morning during the “Country Breakfast” program, but in this
instance the conversation was about fruit trees and their resilience in terms
of dealing with a changing climate.
The sixteen minute segment focussed on the World Bank and
its views on the future of farming, climate change and fruit tree survival and
turning farm waste into energy.
That 16-minute segment made it quite clear that
climate change is a game changer and that the business as usual paradigm is no
longer appropriate and farmers need to ready themselves now for what will be a
distinctly different future
