WOT June 2015 Win for local treasurer

Congratulations to the 2015 winners our community awards 

Among the winners awarded in Sydney in late May was Wycheproof Community Resource manager and Mallee Neighbourhood House Network treasurer, Whitney Boyle,

The Mallee Neighbourhood House Network supports the 13 neighbourhood houses in the northern region of Victoria. The network employs one part-time coordinator; in addition, the houses work together voluntarily. Whitney has served as the network's treasurer for three years. 

When she took on the role, Whitney said had no formal financial training or experience as a not-for-profit group treasurer whatsoever, and had never used MYOB (the network's software). 

Whitney is the part-time manager of Wycheproof Community Resource Centre, one of the network's neighbourhood houses. All the members of the network work to create inclusive, supportive and vibrant communities. 

Her approach to being an effective treasurer is to be open and honest with the organisation's members. Whitney aims to be approachable so that committee members feel comfortable to ask the tough questions.

"It is humbling and inspiring to be a representative of the thousands of not-for-profit treasurers in Australia and to have the responses provided in the award application considered seriously by Our Community and the Commonwealth Bank."

WOT June 2015 Chamber chatter with Tracy

It was great to see the new business in town on the Market Day flyer for May. I will be approaching more businesses for the June promotion. All businesses will agree that sales are up, I hope it continues. 

Some businesses are smartening up the appearance of their shop fronts. This is great to see. 

Remember! buy local or bye bye local.

Some fantastic publicity in the Weekly Times see the story Wyche welcomes Wig and the photos of some happy local retailers. 

While discussing local business success, an important question to ask is: Are you really saving when you shop out of town? When all is added up; such as the cost of fuel, extra incidental purchases and the wear and tear on your vehicle surely must be added to the total spend and negate any perceived saving!

Please think about who is employing your children and who is sponsoring your club or group. It is local businesses. If we don't use the businesses and services we already have, in years to come when you are not so mobile and can't travel out of town they may not be here. 

So give locals a chance to quote on goods, you may be surprised how competitive their price can be and how convenient it is to have items installed and maintained by a local.

Let's work together to keep our town sustainable. 

Wycheproof On Track June 2015

Issue 103 June 2015

At recent Wyche VISION meetings we have discussed the importance of community forums, especially for small communities. 

Wycheproof VISION Inc., as a community forum, is an overarching group for volunteers providing such things as indemnity insurance, governance, banking and financial management and postal address for groups that are members or subcommittees. We aim to assist groups and residents via liaison with Buloke Shire, grant applications and project management.  

Members of the forum are passionate about out town and community and we welcome the ideas and vision of all residents. Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month. If you have a great idea or concern about anything in Wycheproof and can't attend a meeting, then please talk to a member of Wyche VISION, write in so that your idea or concern can be discussed at a meeting or call me on 0407 844 904 to chat about how you can participate.

The work of Wycheproof VISION covers five areas:

• Community connectedness--including production of the Wyche On Track newsletter, managing the community website, social media on Facebook, Locals who Lunch group, Swimming Pool Committee, Youth Group support, and projects such as the BMX track, walking tack around the mount, condom vending machine.
• Heritage -- the Railway precinct, working with Wycheproof Historical Society, heritage streetscape and trees
• Sustainability-- Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Mt Wycheproof, aviaries Centenary Park, Broadway retail precinct streetscape, Buloke Tourism, supporting Landcare initiatives, bindii walks
• Fundraising-- grant submission to enable events, publications and projects
• Liaison -- Buloke Council, East Wimmera Health Service, regional authorities, Victorian Government departments.

While not everyone is interested in every aspect of the work of Wyche VISION, there is probably something that is of interest.  I am interested in community connectedness and this is my focus. By breaking down the work of Wycheproof VISION into the above categories we hope that residents will see an area or project they are interested in or have skills to offer. 

For Wycheproof to keep growing we need to have a TEAM presence ...