MINUTES OF MEETING

MONDAY 18TH JANUARY 2010

@
BURGO’S SHED

PRESENT: John Burgess, Peter Auty, Ric Stubbings, Julie Bateman, Annie Robertson, Judy Baker

BUSINESS:

1. WHAT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN LAST MEETING AND THIS MEETING:

• John: the lease for the Community House at land at Jararra is about to be signed.
• Pete: Memorial meeting report to be tabled later. Simple housekeeping jobs.
• Judy: Community Safety Plan is work in progress.
• Julie: The FRC agreed at an FRC meeting that all expenses should be tabled at an FRC meeting & all are
in agreement that those bills should be paid, we expect them to be paid without question. Therefore the FRC
backs Julie’s claim for expenses.
• Ric: Re funding. Received email from Pete Byrne (forwarded to all FRC members).
• Annie: Attended a Shared Pathway meeting on 13th.
1. Events: Family Day January 21st. Australia Day VBRRA will pay the cost of the relocation of infrastructure
for 21st before 26th. Pete will be on site to deal with this.
2. ARTS PRECINCT: The Arts Precinct consists of the Mens Shed, Community Garden and the Arts
Shed. The Arts Shed building: architectural plans being drawn & permits being sought. Estimated cost of Arts
Precinct building is $85000. . John tabled that VBRRA has found a donor-matcher and we have received
$24000 for materials and supplies for the Arts Shed. Pete will organize a meeting with Samm, Sarah Martin &
Sharon. Spring Valley Recreation Reserve Committee of Management needs to write a letter of support for
the citing of the Mens Shed and Arts Precinct. However the issue of ownership of the land needs to be
clarified before the letter is written.
3. COMMUNITY HALL: Julie Baxter under Pam Williams together with the FRC have flagged a plan improve
the Hall to include all the Hub Services. FRC will give $13000 for project management. $103000 for internal
renovations & external painting – now $118000 including project management. Interruptions to use of the Hall
will take place during the renovations.
4. COMMUNITTY HOUSE: First milestone: land acquisition has been achieved. First release of funding is now
being applied for. Lease is for 9 years and 11 months.
5. COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN: John informed the meeting that $50000 has been allocated through
VBF for the development of a Community Safety Plan.
6. VBRRA have requested a letter from FRC to Water Authority. FRC needs to ponder this carefully before any
letter is composed.
7. All other Shire Recovery Committees are being invited to first Darley meeting.
8. FLOWERDALE TRUST FUND: Where are we up to? All funds are being transferred to an interest bearing
account from Shepparton to Yea. There is an account called the Flowerdale Trust, (of whom the signatories
are: Ric Stubbings, Steve Phelan and Darren Heatherington from Deloittes). Steve Phelan has asked that Prof
Larken (who has extensive experience in community organizations, Trust Funds etc) be invited to advise on a
structure of the fund. Steve is hesitant to spend monies unless a structure is firmly in place. The FRC’s vision
for the money is for filling in gaps from the Recovery Plan. We have known donors. We have an account.
FRC has requested that Ric tables within a week the amounts of money specifically targeted to different
functions. The FRC resolved that Ric will go back to the Trust Committee to discuss these matters. The FRC
also resolved to make public information regarding the Trust Fund. One way to do this is to have a display
board erected (say at the Shop) to show people in the community where we are up to. Another is to publish
the Trust Fund Status via the Community Newsletters.
9. ENVIRONMENT: $50000 has been received from VBF. The original application for $23600 for weed
education, eradication, training, use of chemicals etc etc. Initially VBF did not feel that this does not come
under their jurisdiction as it has a “natural owner” eg. CMA, Shire etc Judy read email from Kim Fawcus to
FRC re this issue, and others including A Safer Place, the Skate Park, and the delivery of projects. Thus VBF
cannot fund everything we have applied for, because there are other “natural owners”. The FRC have raised
with VBRRA that incorporated organizations including the Community House Inc and the Recreation Reserve
Inc should auspice the funds needed for various projects around Flowerdale. The FRC feels it is important for
Community Groups to be responsible and accountable for the funds under their control.
10. Since Dec 18th, the FRC feels that we are making good progress with the agenda set for us by the Flowerdale
Community. The near future will see the FRC trying to get as much leverage with our projects from the
powers that be.
11. FRC is hoping to have a large sign illustrating the steps that were taken to get the ultra light to Flowerdale.
The ultra light will be on display at Australia Day and the donors will be acknowledged on the day.
12. FRC would like a collage on 2009 to present to Darley Stud in recognition of their contributions to Flowerdale.
It was proposed that Samm Hall be approached to organize this to the value of $500. The FRC would like to
present this to Darley.
13. Julie: Carols by Candlelight. $266.47 is outstanding and the FRC agreed that on production of receipts,
this will be paid. Re Summer Events: the FRC suggests that a work engine be formed around this. Re: input
on Community Update. FRC has resolved to provide Julie with information on FRC activities for this update.
14. Pete: Australia Day – meeting on Wed and Fri. Infrastructure in place for up to 400 people.
15. Pete: Memorial – community and memorial committee feedback is for a low-key ecumenical service in
Moores Road. BYO picnic. Possible time 11.00am for about 30 minutes. State memorial will be televised at
11.45. General opinion is that the Media is not required or wanted. VBRRA has asked FRC for feedback via
and community re Media. FRC opinion is that media will not value add to our memorial, and Pete, on behalf of
the Memorial Committee asked the FRC to endorse that media not be invited to the memorial. Meeting
tomorrow at Moores Road re Memorial Day. Re invitations to Anniversary Day: There is a need to inform the
community that this day is on. John and Pete will write an article to put on blog and via the Community Update.
Re: $27000 for Community Garden. There is a move to establish a Co-op Organic Community Vegie Garden.
Salvos have put their hand up to be involved in this project. This is a huge long term project, which has
generated much interest, but for which much research and small steps are undertaken. This could be up to a
five year plan. Re: $25000 has been received to build a propagation unit at the Flowerdale Primary School.
16. Judy: presented her gift. What represents to 2009 to Judy? Judy presented the FRC with an Ant Farm.
Ants are similar to humans. When an ant hill is destroyed the ants work like mad to rebuild their ant
community. The Flowerdale Community is like an Ant Farm. Judy feels that the FRC has worked like ants to
get Flowerdale back together. Thus her gift.
17. Julie: presented her gift. Julie presented a Guardian Angel card called “One Day at A Time”. Julie read
her angel card. Julie also presented a key ring for volunteers. Julie also presented her third gift which is a
little circle of people who make up our community.
18. Annie: presented her gift. It was also a circle of 7 people. The seven represent each of the people on our
Recovery Committee as well as facilitator, Pete Williams. The circle represents strength. The people
represent unity. They face inwards with arms outstretched, embracing the community who they work for.

Meeting Closed 11.40pm

NO FOOD