Cathy’s talk was to evoke us, the community, to get together and discuss the issues that affect us as a border community and as a community which is at the tail end of both states.

Cathy is giving us the opportunity to use this bottom-up approach.

As locals to the border area, we know our area’s needs, wants and issues better than those who are not immersed within them.

Cathy is suggesting that we, as a community, band together and address these issues and come up with solutions. It’s not about naming them and how they are affecting us, but being proactive and advocating for our areas best interest in conjunction with Albury-Wodonga as a whole community.

Regardless of whether these words are new or not, it’s all about the same main concept to evoke and empower us, the community, to do something about it.

Cathy is one person who even with her position and knowledge is limited by proactive input by our community to create a future and path for our bordering communities.

I’m a student at La Trobe University and for me it was rather inspiring to hear her talk and really enjoyed the active atmosphere of those who went.

As a member of the community I want to make this happen and I intend to move towards that.

— JACQUI HAWKINS,

Staghorn Flat