AT this time of year we are often drawn to consider a New Year’s resolution, where we take an opportunity to make minor or major decisions that we think are important to redefining who we are and what we stand for and more importantly what we hope to achieve.
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Personally, I am not big on making these types of resolutions but in looking back and analysing 2013 I thought it might be appropriate to offer my thoughts on a New Year’s resolution for us all.
Let us all work together to seek to affect change and improve the lot of Gloucester residents by being positive and proactive.
Let us have a strong leadership team that is focussed on building a positive and proactive image for our community.
No matter where you go people tell you that Gloucester punches above its weight, it is a lovely little community with heart and soul and a commitment to getting things done. It is a place where people get a fair go and where balance is considered the norm.
But in 2013 we saw little of that. We saw wrangling within the ranks, little leadership and we lost our way in pursuing opportunities that presented themselves.
The community was perceived to be negative to development and as one business person said ‘just damn hard work’.
So much focus was placed on issues that divided the community and resources were ploughed into fighting the idealist fight.
All of that is laudable, but there has to be a balance and when so many resources are focussed on that one element it takes on such negative connotation that there are flow-on perceptions that foul our brand.
My belief is that we need to work at affecting change where we can have an effect and in so doing create business and job opportunities for our mothers, fathers and children.
This year we as a community need to grasp some of these passing opportunities and build a base that will last for decades.
Yes there will be challenges but as a community, if we work as one towards a common goal, like in the past, nothing can stop us.
I am being idealistic you might say, I think not.
Let us put number one on the agenda, the item every councillor spoke with some passion about at the pre-election rally at the bowling club.
In fact, I recollect the mayor gave a commitment to progressing the matter once the council was established: an aged care facility and retirement village for Gloucester.
Sixty to eighty jobs, income generated and retained in town and a development that allows our older residents to live with dignity and long term security, close to family and their traditional home.
This is just one example and there are many others.
For any of this to work we need to move on from the past, forget about apportioning blame or ridicule and above all we need to be positive and create a proactive image that encourages people to work with us.
Let us focus less on being obstructive and challenging the issues where we can have little effect and work together on those potential opportunities that again lift our community onto the centre stage for all the right reasons.