PICKERING Brook Sports Club played host last week to 80 participants from 50 small towns in Australia who gathered to engage in conversation and hear from a range of international and national presenters on a wide range of topics about revitalising small rural communities.

According to ABS statistics there are currently 1614 rural towns in Australia with a population of less 5000 people, 1088 of these have less than 1000.

It is estimated that more than 80 per cent of these communities away from the coast are either static or dying in terms of population and business life.

This event stimulated discussion and ideas to reverse this picture of decline and hear about practical strategies to counter depopulation and generate new community and economic life.

With the stimulus of presenters from USA, Canada and New Zealand and every state of Australia, stories of hope and actions were exchanged, the conference also provided the opportunity for delegates to experience both the beauty and innovation of Pickering Brook, home to amazing examples of agri-tourism, like Core Cider and La Fattoria.

Conference convener, Peter Kenyon, Director of the Bank of IDEAS was excited about the event’s outcomes in terms of idea generation and renewed desire by communities to take proactive action.

“It was a privilege to be with a group of community leaders from across Australia who care so passionately about the future of small-town Australia,” Mr Kenyon said.

“I was inspired by their determination to take responsibility in creatively rebuilding the social and economic futures of the small towns that they love so much.

“This event was the first occasion that a national conference was hosted in the City of Kalamunda, and given its success as a conference location, I am sure this is the start of many national and state conferences and workshops” he said.