The former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police is due to deliver the address at Beechworth’s La Trobe University on July 25.

Ms Nixon yesterday said she would not step down from her leadership role in the bushfire authority but public calls for her sacking continue after revelations about her activities on Black Saturday.

Indigo Shire Mayor and Kerferd Oration committee member Bernard Gaffney said he had “an open mind” regarding Ms Nixon’s delivery of the address but a couple of Beechworth residents had expressed concern to him about her involvement in light of the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission revelations.

“I have been approached by some members of the community, for whom I have respect, who have told me they will not be attending the Kerferd Oration if she is the speaker,” he said.

Cr Gaffney said he was “looking forward” to the next ordinary meeting of the Kerferd Oration committee on April 30 to see how the issue panned out.

Committee member Joan Simms said Ms Nixon had been invited last year in the context of her work as head of the recovery authority to speak on the hidden strengths and talents of communities.

“It’s not just about Christine as a high-profile person in the Victorian community,” she said.

“It has a basis from several orations past where we’ve looked at different aspects of climate change; this is another aspect and it came home to us with the fires of 2009.”

Ms Simms said if Ms Nixon’s position with the authority changed, the committee would likely discuss its options at the meeting at the end of the month, but the oration would go ahead.

“We have time between now and the 25th of July,” she said.

“The calibre of speakers that we have been able to invite and have acceptance from, and bring these eminent people on emerging issues to speak to the community ... would hold us in good stead in securing an alternative speaker, if that situation arises.”