Totally Sustainable Tallangatta seeks community input on making a vibrant town
MORE than 60 years since Tallangatta moved eight kilometres to make way for the Hume Weir, the town is now considering the best way forward.
A new community group, Totally Sustainable Tallangatta (TST), wants to rally support for a thriving and sustainable town.
TST spokeswoman Louise Kelly said country people were well equipped to chart their own course.
“Self-determination is key,” she said.
“Rather than waiting on government or a great big employer to save the day, it’s not going to happen.
“We want a vibrant and engaged culture; it comes down to the fact that you do have permission to self-determine.”
TST members Mary Grant, Ted and Glenda Minty and Ms Kelly are seeking community input on creating a thriving Tallangatta through regular events.
Ms Kelly said the first event – a community day at Tallangatta Triangles on Sunday – would share information about existing cultural, social and sporting groups and determine what people wanted in future.
“The demographics of Tallangatta are changing and a lot of young families are moving in as are people from the city,” she said.
“The community day will offer a really lovely connection for people; it’s face-to-face, not Facebook.”
Organisations representing health and wellness community groups, sporting groups, creative arts, youth and environment will attend from 10am to 2pm.
There will be an ideas tree and children’s activities.
Ms Kelly said TST would be officially launched at a Share Dinner and Conversation on May 2.
She said it would explore questions related to sustainability after a pot luck dinner in the parish hall in Towong Street from 6.30pm.
“There is a 22 per cent uptake of solar energy in Tallangatta,” she said.
“We’re already on the way; when people hear that they start getting motivated to connect.”
Dinner guest speakers will include Cam Klose, Francesca Ciantar, Bobbi McKibben and Towong Shire mayor Aaron Scales.
Yackandandah resident Cam Klose is the spokesman for the creation of the Community Energy Retailer in the North East.
Founder of Plasticwise Francesca Ciantar will speak about challenging communities to change their consumption and waste management habits.
Renewable Albury Wodonga (RAW) Energy’s Bobbi McKibben will speak about the solar industry at a grassroots level.
For more information contact Louise Kelly on 0408 977 356 or Ted Minty on 0427 718 610.
Bookings via trybooking.com/VDWT
Originally Published by The Border Mail