The community movement famously helped Cathy McGowan in her 2013 election win and now three founding members are working on the next challenge: the Good Council Group.

In the lead-up to October council elections, it will hold a series of forums to discuss what residents believe are the right attributes to help Wangaratta prosper.

Wangaratta’s Australian of the year Anne Shaw said the group wanted voters to really consider their decision.

“It’s about asking people what they think, rather than telling them,” she said.

“It was the merging of lots of conversations – looking to the future, concern about what happened last time, concern it could happen again.”

The Victorian government sacked the previous council in 2013 following a year of dysfunction and infighting.

Rural economist Rowan O'Hagan said the group wanted to flip the conversation from “what went wrong” to “what could be done better”.

“We don’t want to get into bitter recrimination, we want to keep it positive,” she said.

“If you had several options and you were thinking of where to do business, you’d want somewhere with stable government.”

The group also included Voices for Indi member John Davis, John Brown from Brown Brothers, Merriwa board members Danny O’Donoghue and John Joyce, former jazz festival chairman Max White, former Wangaratta Unlimited chairman Barry Sullivan, North East Water manager Ann Telford, Gateway Hotel manager Wendy Lester and former councillor Bernard Young.

All had high standing in the city, but could not commit to running for council.

The forums will use the Voices for Indi style of kitchen table conversations where people in groups of about 10 will all have their opinions recorded.

A report will be released before voting begins.

The first forum will be held at Yarrunga Community Hub on September 1 followed by meetings in North Wangaratta, Moyhu and Glenrowan.