I attended a catchment community forum in Myrtleford today. I was there for work purposes, and can say quite reasonably that it was a fair success.
That said, there were only about 15 members of the public there to hear what’s happening to protect and enhance the local environment. This was a real chance for people to ask questions and influence policy.
The modest attendance doesn’t really surprise me. I’ve been involved with organising two public meetings on health issues in Mount Beauty that only attracted two people each!
There’s a lot of speculation about why this is so, and I don’t discount looking in the mirror to ask what else I could have done to get the message across.
However, I think it’s just a sign of the times. People are busier; they have less free time and they’re more focused on themselves and their families than the wider community.
That creates a sense of apathy, which is only stimulated into action when something directly confronts the cosy world of the individual.
For instance, if the hospital was under threat of closure we’d have no trouble packing the local hall.
Or in the natural resource management field, if we proposed taxing every landowner $500 per year for environmental works we’d hear their views very loudly.
This presents a challenge for those of us who work in community engagement and public relations. We need to find new methods that encourage participation. I don’t have any answers yet, just lots of questions and a handful of ideas.
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