Is it time you spoke up? A grassroots advocacy group is looking for community-minded people who want to see progress in the Yass Valley. The new non-partisan group has formed as ‘Voices for Yass Valley’ and describe themselves as a friendly group for people from all over the Local Government Area who would like to feel heard and contribute their views to village and town issues.
“We don’t want to dictate which issues we decide to pursue; it’s purely driven by the people. That’s a hard concept for some people to get their head around in this day and age, but that’s how the Voices model works,” explained Rebecca Duncan from Yass.
Mrs Duncan said many people may feel they aren’t being listened to or heard.
“People are well and truly sick of being ignored by their local politicians. We formed the group after discussions with mutual friends who expressed concern about the lack of genuine consultation and progress on a range of local issues. When you consult, you can usually find some consensus.”
“In a similar vein to Voices for Indi in Victoria, and Voices of Warringah in Sydney, the new Voices for Yass Valley is a grassroots community group established to hear from local people about local issues and take consensus views to our representatives. It is not a political party,” said Mr Tewes, also from Yass.
“Voices for Yass Valley are inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to attend informal small group chats about what you love about where you live, which issues you feel are important, what you want from our elected representatives, and what changes or improvements you’d like to see here in the Yass Valley,” Mr Tewes added.
“The priority issues we decide to pursue will depend entirely on what people tell us is most important to them through a series of “kitchen tables” where we ask open questions to get people’s views. We may also hold other events in the future,” Mrs Duncan added.
Due to COVID, the chats are held on Zoom, but the aim is to have in-person meetings soon, if possible. Contact Alex Tewes wyvernsridge@gmail.com for more information or to join the next chat. Mrs Duncan also advised a Facebook Page is up and running.
“Whether you were born here or just moved here, are 18 or 98, everyone is very welcome to get in touch.”
