It is widely held that many small rural communities struggle to survive as the drift of knowledge and entrepreneurship of young people is towards the larger regional centres and major cities. Reasons put forward range from job opportunities to lifestyle. Community capacity to maintain a town identity wanes as service clubs cease to function for the want of members, churches, sporting clubs suffer from diminished numbers and businesses search for ways to maintain viability.

The Charles Sturt University Project

In 2004 Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst completed a project which developed processes allowing the University to use its research skills and knowledge base to assist small towns strengthen business and enhance the community capital of local government communities.

The joint initiative of the University, the NSW Department of State and Regional Development and the New South Wales local government areas of Parkes and Blayney, was a first for Australia, and followed much research on development of the sustainability of regional communities by Paul Collits, Manager of Regional Policy with the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.

In his role as General Manager of Blayney Shire and subsequently as the community representative on the Steering Committee, Ray Hornery took a keen interest in ensuring the success of the project, managed under the umbrella of the Western Region Institute based at the Charles Sturt University’s Bathurst Campus.

>> Read about this project in the CSU e-zine newTIMES

CentrePoint Sport and Leisure - Blayney

CentrePoint had its origins in a youth forum facilitated by Blayney Shire Council in 1996. Council invited the young people of the Shire to develop a strategy for the Council to embrace, on ways to entertain and provide an activity base for the young people of the Shire. Paramount were the issues of no public transport to larger centres, the greater risk to young people having to drive long distances to those regional centres for their entertainment and the desire for a meeting place in the community.

Consultation then became an art form for Council to embrace all the ideas from the diverse community groups. The outcome was a decision to construct an indoor recreation centre incorporating a heated swimming pool, dry courts, gymnasium, aerobics facilities and a Guides and Scouts Centre. Truly a multi purpose centre. Funding the centre was given a great boost through the generosity of the Cadia Gold Mine in a deal negotiated by Council.

For a town of 3000 people, the decision by the Council was courageous. The success as a community infrastructure for the young and not so young is now well established. CentrePoint was an important element in Blayney Shire Council, under Ray Hornery’s stewardship, being awarded the Year 2000 Bluett Award for management excellence in local government.  

Ophir, a locality near Orange in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, was the site of the discovery of the first payable gold in Australia, by John Hargraves. It was fitting, therefore, for the three Councils in the region, being Blayney, Cabonne and Orange, to come together to exploit tourism by providing the gold for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic medals. The project required sufficient funding not only to procure the gold but to ensure promotion and integration of the community into Olympic activities. Close to a quarter of a million dollars was raised through community activities.

In his role as General Manager, Ray Hornery had responsibility for facilitating the procurement of the gold.