The luck of the south

OPINION: We in the south are fortunate in a multitude of ways; not the least being the environment we live in, the access we have to community funding, affordable and accessible education and, of course, being the new home of the Ranfurly Shield, writes Tracy Hicks this week.

All of these are priceless but there is another and perhaps less obvious trait within the south, which is the lack of group thinking evident within local government in Southland.

Difference and challenge around the council table or indeed any board table is crucial to the future of that organisation.

I have long said there is not a region in the country that works as well as Southland does and the evidence backs that up. However, that doesn't mean we always agree and there is plenty of evidence to support that.

The latest example of Southland leading the way has been through the reform of civil defence.

It has taken a long time, with a little headbutting along the way, but a much improved and a much more co-ordinated organisation will be seen in the future, with a regional focus that will enable the local response to any emergency to be both targeted and effective.

Not that local responses have not been effective in the past – they have – but sooner or later we will be faced with an emergency of a regional nature and we must be ready and able to respond.

It's said that people don't determine their future; they determine their habits, and in turn their habits determine their future.

The same applies to organisations, and I am firmly of the belief that the habit Southlanders exhibit of looking for practical solutions to the big challenges of the day will ensure that we stay at the cutting edge, particularly in terms of the challenges facing local government, and there is no shortage of those.

Last Saturday evening the rapidly developing habit of Eastern Southlanders celebrating their successes reached a new high, with the Gore District Community Awards.

There were a record number of nominations, with the quality of those nominations rising year on year. I congratulate all the nominees and celebrate the winners.

However, the highlight of the evening for me was the presenting two civic awards, awards that recognise a lifetime of service to our community without a hint of seeking reward of recognition.

Carol Dawson is both the face and the arms and legs of Riding for the Disabled in Eastern Southland, along with the husband-and-wife team of Jean and Don Neilson, who have both contributed vital ingredients to the glue that holds the Mataura community together.

They are all great examples of the value and the role that volunteers play in our community.

The Gore district would be but a shadow of what it is if it were not for individuals such as Carol, Jean and Don.

If nothing else, the media focus on Invercargill during the past few days has served to remind us all that we are less than 12 months out from local authority elections and that we all need to be thinking seriously about the individuals we want to represent us.

At this point, my intention is to be available to serve another term as mayor of the Gore district.

It is a role I both value and enjoy. With the challenges of large-scale development on the horizon, along with the challenge of security around water supply, I would like to play a part in what the future holds.

Without exception, the councillors serving the Gore district this term have thrown themselves into the role enthusiastically and with good results, for which I thank them.

Democracy is a great institution and provides an opportunity for all to serve so, if you have the desire and passion to serve your community as an elected representative, now is the time to start thinking.

» Tracy Hicks is the Gore district mayor.

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