People, Places and Learning

In speaking to you today about the Centre for Rural Communities I also wish to share with you some understanding that has developed for me along with the establishment of the Centre for Rural Communities. Personally I have had to ask myself seriously why this is important to me, and slowly answers have formed past the stage of a gut reaction of because I like living in the country, for I also enjoy the anonymity of the city, past the answer of the need for choice of lifestyle. I have found answers in a range of places, from rural people I have worked with, students and colleagues, across a range of disciplines, friends and communities. From Australian writers also struggling to use English words to describe this country and their relationship with it - a sense of acceptance, a celebration of place a partnership. So today I wish to share with you briefly, the process of identifying that things were not as they should be for rural communities, the questions this raised and the action which has followed.