AVCLP founder retires with a legacy of leadership

He was one of a small group of people who established the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program in 1998.

It now has 323 graduates who have gone on to leadership positions around the community and the state.

The program – and in turn Mr Nickless – helped develop leaders such as Inspector David Ryan from Wangaratta police, former mayor and current Wangaratta administrator Irene Grant, and North East Catchment Management Authority chairwoman Lyn Coulston.

He said it was important communities produced their own leaders, instead of governments bringing people in from outside the area.

But in the late 90s, there was a void in traditional leadership left from the downsizing of farms, government agencies and banks.

An issue over a hospital was argued about in the public eye, rather than in productive conversations.

“I thought there were some real leadership issues, especially in some of those smaller communities at the time,” Mr Nickless said.

He said it was a pleasure to see so many AVCLP graduates doing good work.

“Clearly there is still that ongoing need,” Mr Nickless said.

“The community is asked to do a lot more by government, there’s a lot of cost-shifting there.”

He was also Wangaratta Council’s economic development officer who left during the 2013 turmoil.

The city’s next challenge will be bringing together a quality group of councillors to lead the city from 2016.

“It is critical that we get candidates come forward for the right reasons… and not be bogged down with baggage,” Mr Nickless said.

The former AVCLP board member said he would keep his passion for leadership, but turn his focus to his new farm at Byawatha.

“I think everyone has their time, I had a long time,” Mr Nickless said.

“I was very fortunate to step down at a time I knew the program was in the best shape it’s ever been.”