Sean Beck - Southern Downs Regional Council

Sean Beck, Strategic Planning and Project Coordinator, Southern Downs Regional Council

First Forum

Reflecting on where the Propeller journey began for us, the group had no idea the changes that were about to transpire. Beginning late February, we enjoyed two jam packed days of testing and learning, all centralised around awareness, both of ourselves and of the people around us. Nerves from the first day had begun to ease and a minor sense of familiarity was beginning to foster throughout the group. Our teams had been formed, and my team, the BLT’s, were in the thick of organising the second workshop in Ayr. Whilst the chaos of the Propeller Programme was busy occupying the prime real estate in our brains, the 1st of March 2020 brought about the first Australian death from COVID-19. Whilst this did not seem significant at the time, it set off the largest crisis in my lifetime.

To set the scene, it’s the first week of March 2020 and accommodation options were being sent to the other teams, venues organised, flights and accommodation booked; it was all moving very quickly but the excitement was really starting to set-in.

Following the first death, the media coverage was starting to increase around COVID-19. For those who don’t know me, I seldom pay much attention to the usual fear-mongering that news outlets thrive on and thought little of their attempts this time. They say in life you must “expect the unexpected”, but I don’t think any of us were expecting what would happen next. On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organisation announced COVID-19 as a pandemic and soon after, the Australian government began to implement lockdown restrictions.

Now one week out from the first round of workshops and Lisa sent us an email floating some rather unsavoury realities, such as: travel restrictions and potential postponement until either September or December. A lot of work had gone into organising the first workshop for our team and with everything booked, I was hoping that we may be able to squeeze in the trip before things locked down further. Unfortunately, by days end on 16th of March 2020, Lisa advised that the programme would need to be postponed. I have been in some stressful situations in my life but having to call Flight Centre two hours before my flight was supposed to leave and cancel (along with the few other million people doing the same) is not an experience that I wish to have again for some time.

Thoughts of being able to do the programme later that year began to flicker as restrictions continued. Following a Zoom meeting and a group survey in July 2020, Lisa sent an email in September to the group outlining that Propeller would be postponed until 2021.

Second, First Forum

Fast-forward to February 2021, almost a year later and with a few group Zoom meetings under the belt, we were ready to kick-off again. The virus had claimed many casualties by now and unfortunately for the group, an emotional casualty was felt when it was announced that one of the group members (Calum from Tablelands Regional Council) would no longer be participating in the programme. Soldiering on from this loss and determined to continue with Propeller, the group met in Brisbane for a one day re-connection forum.

Now before I get into the captivating part of this memoire, I wanted to take a quick sidebar to explain the other component of my reflection. For those who know me, I would consider myself to be a food enthusiast and an all-round lover of things edible. In an attempt to highlight this passion, the forthcoming memoire includes a rating against each dinner that I indulged in whist attending Propeller.

To kick off the second round past “Go”, the group met for a pre re-connection forum dinner at popular Italian chain, Vapianos. The mobile ordering and service direct to the table was extremely convenient and noted as one of the “good things” to come from COVID-19. I enjoyed a Lasagne with side garden salad and bread. This staple was cooked well, tasted great, however the portion was a bit small for my liking. Overall, I scored this meal a 7 out of 10.

The following day, the group met for the re-connection forum. There was an air of excitement and uncertainty in the room, but the prevailing tone of the day was similar to that of meeting an old friend; you may not have spoken to them in a while, but it’s as if no time has passed. Each member of the group had five minutes to re-introduce themselves and this proved invaluable, as I learnt so much more about by comrades. This was followed by a refresher on last year’s learnings from the first forum and a quick run around the room at some potential new council locations for the programme. With the excitement of last year re-ignited, prevailing stress eased and a hope that there would be no disruptions this time, I sat in anticipation of the programme to come.

Workshops 1 and 2

A few Zoom meetings and many group emails later, I had now arrived in Townsville. Finally able to travel in a plane again (albeit with a mask on), the sense of “returning to normal” started to flow through my mind. What better way to get stuck into the first round of workshops but with dinner at the Cowboys Leagues Club. The weapon of choice was a crumbed streak with potato bake, pumpkin and vegetables and was dubbed by the Leagues Club as the *Best Seller*. This classic did not disappoint and the companionship of the group made it all the better. Overall, I would say this deserved a 7.5 out of 10.

Having never been to Burdekin Shire before, I started the trip with no preconceptions and limited knowledge of the area. Arriving in Ayr, there was a real coastal town vibe and some beautiful heritage buildings. The workshop was well organised and a chance to catch-up with the presenters over lunch was an excellent experience. Burdekin had some really interesting initiatives and although it shouldn’t have surprised me, the idea of having only two directors seemed so foreign. There was a sense of comradery about the council and that its employees were closely connected with their area (as was the trend at all council’s we visited).

Not long after lunch we finished up in Ayr and boarded the bus. The bus trips were where I learnt so much about the other participants and were such an instrumental part of the experience; which is lucky, considering how much time we spent on the bus. After a quick pit stop at the Puma Reid River for an iced tea and a leg stretch, it was off to Charters Towers.

In what could only be described as the premier accommodation out of all our stays throughout the Propeller Programme, we freshened up at Kernow Charters Towers. Charters Towers is well known for its gold but I would say it has just as may gems, such as our dinner venue for the evening “The Rix”. This gorgeous little pub had its own private dining area for the group and the steak was paired with one of the best mushroom sauces I have had in a long time. Overall, this was the meal of the programme and earnt a well-deserved 10 out of 10.

The workshop at Charters Towers was a wonderful insight into the rich history of the area and some of the key challenges they face trying to keep employment in town. Matters such as housing shortages were not topics I thought we would be talking about in Charters Towers. After a quick tour to the exchange and Towers Hill, it was back on the road to Townsville.

It was on the trip back through Townsville that we saw this humble waterfall cascading across the road from The Strand. I walked past this waterfall some two years earlier on another LGMA related trip when the bushfires were raging through Australia. To think of how much had changed in such a short time and to be triggered by such an insignificant reminder was my motivation to embrace this experience with as much vigour as possible and keep an eye on the small details.

Workshops 3 and 4

With the first set of workshops done, the group all arrived in Cairns only a few weeks later to embark on our next adventure. Having left the cool of Warwick in the morning, the arrival to Cairns hit me like a hot brick wall. I prefer the cooler climates and as you can see from my face below (in the maroon), I do not take kindly to the heat (even if I’m in a gorgeous setting such as Cooktown).

The Endeavour River boat tour was definitely a highlight of the trip and is something I would love to do again. Scenery, history and fishing are three words that would best describe Cooktown and are definitely the reason I would return.

After a day in the life of an EMT at Cooktown Shire Council (they sure have their work cut-out for them) and some group yoga in the gorgeous Cooktown Botanic Gardens, I was more than ready for a nap. So much so, that I couldn’t wait to get back to my room.

After receiving some well-deserved rest, it was off to the River of Gold Motel for some dinner at Annan’s Restaurant. Feeling spritely from the rest and with a promise of food, the evening saw us mix between our groups and gave an opportunity to learn some more about the people we didn’t always speak with.

Derrick (to my left) had the calamari schnitzel (a schnitzel made entirely out of calamari) and after his positive review, it had me wishing I had ordered the same. However, for the reader interested in my food reviews, I ordered the pork cutlet with garlic prawn topper, chips and salad. The pork was cooked to perfection and nothing beats prawns in Cooktown, which is why this dish scored a 9 out of 10.

By the next morning it was time to leave Cooktown and the atmosphere around the bus was that no-one was looking forward to the three hour drive to Mareeba. With most enjoying a touch of alone time, either via rest or their earphones, we arrived at the lovely Mareeba RSL Club. This particular council were brave enough to embark on a de-amalgamation process and although difficult, the passion and connection between community and their council was abundantly clear. Reflected by their long serving staff and enthusiastic mentality, this former tobacco town was one to remember. Whilst a lot of the topics covered in this workshop were similar to my council, it was evident that many in the room benefited from the discussions surrounding governance and our obligations as employees.

After a jam packed time in Mareeba, it was back to Cairns for one last dinner as a group. The Rattle N’ Hum Bar and Grill did not disappoint and the full rack of pork ribs were worth coming back to Cairns for. The score for this meal was bolstered by the generosity of my fellow propellants, as I tried the remains of a steak, carbonara, two varieties of pizza and some scrumptious sweet potato fries. Topped with a mango soft serve from the night markets, I scored this meal a 9.5 out of 10 overall.

Workshops 5 and 6

The final set of workshops were much closer to home for me. A brisk 3.5 hour drive through the Toowoomba and South Burnett regions saw me arrive in Murgon in anticipation of the Cherbourg workshop. The Murgon Services Club offered a mixed grill with a CRUMBED SAUSAGE and this was too good to pass up. This meal was very filling and all of the meats were commendable, however the slightly overcooked steak bumped the overall score to 7 out of 10.

Knowing very little about an Aboriginal Shire Council, the promise of getting to learn about one was the primary reason I applied for the Propeller Programme. Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council did not disappoint and for me it was a massive eye opener. Due to some complications with organising the workshop, my group had put the tours in the morning and presentations in the afternoon. Hindsight is a wonderful thing because this was the first time this format had been used and it seemed to be more favourable to the group (unfortunately we discovered this on the second last workshop).

Back to the actual events of the day and the group met first-up with the Recycling Facilities Manager Andrew. Andrew had built this facility from the ground-up and poured his blood, sweat and tears into making the facility better every day. His dedication to this facility showed the passion that the community have for their area. Next stop on the tour was The Ration Shed Museum and for me this was the best experience in the whole programme. The tour was led by Wakka Wakka elder Uncle Eric and his recount of Aboriginal history in the Cherbourg area and Australia wide was nothing short of amazing. There was so much to learn from the people in this place and I will definitely be going back to do the tour again. With a heavy heart and a full ego (from being referred to as Daly Cherry-Evans by Uncle Eric all day), it was off to the Council Depot for the afternoon’s presentations.

There was so much that I learnt about this council: the way that they operate, how they generate income, their goals and targets; however, the prevailing element in all of these topics was the sole focus on community. This pure approach as an organisation reminded me of the local governments you used to hear of, with community being the only reason for operating and nothing being more important than their respect and respecting them. Whilst this still may be the case for local governments, the purity of connection between council and community isn’t always so apparent. The staff were all so inspiring and I picked up enough quotes to last a lifetime. Some of the most inspirational included:

• Learn to be resourceful (in every sense of the word).

• You need to be bold.

• Politicians love success. Why meet with Members in Cairns, when you can sit with Ministers in Brisbane.

• Focus on the aspects that matter.

• When you point your finger, there are three fingers pointing back at you.

• Build confidence and capacity in your people.

• A Minister is only as good as the people who inform them.

• One team and one family.

• Build human capital.

• Make Cherbourg a better place to live than yesterday.

After an amazing day in Cherbourg, it was off to Noosa for the last workshop and of course, a dinner at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club. I enjoyed the battered flathead, chips, house salad and aioli because nothing beats seafood that close to the ocean. It did not disappoint and the only reason the score wasn’t higher is because I thought the portion could have been bigger (I do love a big feed to be fair). Overall this meal scored an 8.5 out of 10.

Arriving in Tewantin for the last workshop at Noosa Shire Council, I was greeted by the CEO and “forced” to remove my tie (which felt like losing a part of me). The grounds provided were that Noosa is a casual council and have a no tie policy. If you enjoy formal attire, I would recommend steering clear of Noosa as a general rule. All jokes aside, the council was amazing and the work they have done to keep Noosa special is nothing short of astonishing. Community juries and disaster relief were the topics of the day and displayed the trust that the council have in their community. The day in Noosa was wrapped-up with a guided tour around the spectacular Cooroy Library, which would have to be one of the coolest libraries I have ever seen and one of the most up-to-date movie collections.

Final Forum

Excited with the prospect of getting to see everyone for one last time (despite COVID-19’s best attempt to postpone), I drove into the car park of the George William Hotel, which now holds the crown for the tightest parking complex I have ever entered. The day was filled with reflection on where it all began, the highlights, what we learnt about ourselves and how we worked together. Although there was a sense of relief that it was all done, I was also extremely sad to be finished with the programme. But one thing that is always sure to cheer me up is a good feed.

The final dinner of the programme was at The Transcontinental Hotel and the venue was a great place to finish this experience. I had the 300g Darling Downs Rib Eye with chips, salad and a delightful mushroom gravy. Overall this meal was a well-rounded 9 out of 10.

Looking back on the whole experience, I’m not really sure if I knew what to expect and if I thought that I would get as much out of it as I did. What makes the programme special is ineffable; there is no one element that typifies the experience but rather a small agglomeration of many elements. The experience is sometimes so intense and busy that it brings out the very best emotions and sometimes the not so desirable ones, but it’s with the help of the group and the lessons you learn at the start, that help you get through it all.

If I had my time again, I would try and be more bold; take a bit more time to meet with other councils outside of the allotted times and harness the benefits of being in that area (I would also learn how to take better photos). To anyone reading this who may be interested in the programme, take the leap of faith, jump into it with no preconceptions and make the most of this rare opportunity.