Fears for Estella group without a new generation of community advocates

COVID-19 restrictions and a lack of new members are to blame for the impending demise of the Estella Progress Association, according to current President Bruce Durham.

“Before COVID came in we did have a lot of interest,” says Bruce looking out across the floodplains from his place on the hill in the Settlers Village.

“We actually had a meeting up at the new school in the big auditorium up there and had over 100 people turn up.”

Bruce attributes the large turnout to interest in the new shops that were finally to be built after years of lobbying from the association.

“We had the developers come along to give us their story and tell us what was going to happen and there was a lot of interest so it was a good meeting,” he says.

A retired farmer, Bruce became involved with the Estella Progress Association when he moved to the Village eight years ago.

“We mainly liaise with council on things that we can see around the area that needs to be improved or fixed up,” he explains.

“Council reps used to come along to the meetings and they could open to questions from people.”

Bruce says the lack of any shops or facilities in the northern suburbs was the focus of their efforts for many years.

“When we got here, someone said it was 10 years before that there was a sign up on the hill that said – ‘shopping centre coming soon’,” he says with a chuckle.

The association also worked to foster community with an annual Christmas celebration.

“That was our major event for the year and we put a lot of effort into that and it brought people from all around together.”

The population of Wagga’s Estella/University region has surged to over 5000 residents in the past few years with the rapid development of Boorooma and Gobbagombalin.

The Riverina Anglican College has recently expanded, the new Estella Public School is in operation and not one, but two shopping centres are under construction.

There is no doubt that the northern suburbs are progressing, but Bruce fears that the community group that has long advocated for their interests may not continue.

When COVID-19 struck and meeting in person was no longer possible, he says engagement evaporated.

“I think we had 23 that participated in the next annual general meeting on Zoom,” he shrugs.

Despite recent efforts to attract new members, the group has struggled to renew interest.

“Before the last AGM, we sent out two and a half thousand flyers and on the back of the flyer was the application form, and out of that, we got 32 members,” he explains.

“But the interest seems to have gone out and we’ve lost the fire that we used to have with people getting stirred up about something.”

He says that the association’s members are getting older and that they will need younger members interested in advocating for the community to survive.

“We need people to take on positions like secretary and treasurer,” he says, adding that if they are unable to recruit by the end of the year, they will fold.

“We’ve got around $9000 so if we’re going to disband, we’ve got to get rid of the money somehow.

“So we’re thinking the council might be prepared to put in some nice park benches and seats in different places all through the suburbs, and we could put a plaque on it.”

Despite the ticking clock, Bruce remains hopeful that some of the new generations of northern suburbanites might heed the call.

“The way we’ve been operating we’re not really asking for a lot of time at all, really.”

If you live over the Gobba Bridge and would like to put up your hand to be a community advocate, contact the association at [email protected].