A reflection from Carolyn Sammon and Simon Crase – AVCLP 15/16 Grads
I recently attending the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program Graduation (AVCLP) held in Wangaratta. The night was well attended and we had the pleasure of listening to Craig Lapsley – Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner. But the night belonged to this year’s graduates and in particular to Simon and Carolyn who provided wonderful insights into their year through the graduating speeches.
The following excerpts from Simon’s and Carolyn’s speeches are contained below with their permission and I would like to take this time to thank them both for allowing me to share their reflections and I wish you every success for the future. Kat Baddeley – CEO VRCLP
Simon Crase
Carolyn Sammon
10 months ago, I gathered somewhat apprehensively with an assortment of friendly-enough strangers. It’s safe to say now that I wasn’t the only one wondering what I was in for, or if I belonged in this esteemed program. If I knew then, what I know now, I would not have believed my luck.
We were here to learn to be leaders, though it was a pretty big promise. I was suffering some fairly serious self-doubt, but that fact was, I was ready to embrace change, and with my boys all at school, I was looking for my ‘next big thing’. Having never lived up to my own expectations, I was hoping to widen my horizons and to be challenged. I braced myself to be thrust outside my comfort zone.
Our fortnightly days together were spent in various locations around our beautiful region, listening to outstanding leaders and visionaries, while we frantically formulated appropriately outstanding questions. We commenced learning an array of skills from the best around. In an environment of trust and respect, we took risks, and we reflected on new ideas. We learned that if we don’t give up, we can’t fail.
Little did we know that the people from whom we would learn the most were standing next to us.
We know now that a small group of passionate, connected and committed people can transform communities. In fact that is exactly what we’re now prepared to do.
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