This is a collection of stories that represents an attempt to share some of the initiatives that have taken place in Australia over recent decades in building community.

The authors are linked with the Social Developers Network, a loose association of people committed to personal and social change. Hopefully the publication of these stories will stimulate others to be written and shared.

• Overview
• The Stories
  • A Matter of Bread, by Sylvia Baker
  • John Martin's Story
  • Keeping Inspiration from New York City to Sydney to Central Coast/Newcastle/Hunter (Australia) 1969-2001, by Ray Rauscher
  • Chicago: A Day with the Mayor, by Sylvia Baker
  • Setting up a Mediation Service, by David Purnell
  • Four Winds: Intjartnama, by Graham Bird
  • The Community Project, by Lindsay Mell
  • Learning From Re-Evaluation Counselling, by Karla Meyer
  • Kiss me on my bald head, by Ian Murray
  • Four Posts , by Sylvia Baker
  • Jenny's Story , by Sylvia Baker
  • The Bannockburn Farmers, with Ned Iceton
  • Graham Long's Story: The Wayside Chapel
  • Susanna Vall's Story

OVERVIEW

In gathering the material, I asked contributors to focus on the following points:

• the factors that led you to be involved in a particular issue/venture;
• what the aim of the project was and to whom it was directed;
• how you began the project and who worked with you;
• which government or other agencies were involved, and in what way did this influence the project (eg re funding and accountability);
• problems you encountered along the way, turning points or crises, and how these were handled;
• outcomes of the project;
• lessons learned (for you as a person, and for the group or community or organisation);
• how your strengths and weaknesses as a social developer were affected by the experience;
• any principles of social development that you identified.

Looking through the material I have identified a number of common threads as well as divergences. Common threads seem to be (a) a desire to respond to a situation of injustice or to achieve equity in some way, (b) a wish to facilitate community and personal development, (c) a commitment to making society more harmonious and creative, and (d) a willingness to take risks. Divergences appear mainly in the methods used, some of which are very localised and involve a local population ,whilst others have a wider focus and seek to reach people over a wider area. Some involve close co-operation with government, others are definitely non-government.

Although social development often involves voluntary effort, that does not mean it is unprofessional in its methods or outcomes. In our present era we are all expected to meet certain standards and codes of conduct, and the stories in this collection show that this is happening in real situations around Australia. When people work together for a cause or a task, they need appropriate structures that support co-operative effort and encourage initiative. It is important to have processes within organisations to enable adequate communication and conflict resolution.

There are many people active in socially developmental ways, and it would be good to hear more of their stories. It is important to get better records of the inspiration and perspiration of Australians in the cause of community and personal growth, as it helps show future generations the possibilities that have been grasped and give leads to future initiatives that build on what has been done.

This website includes a few of the stories. Further information about the collection, and about how to contribute a story, can be obtained from me by e-mail: David Purnell, david.christine@iinet.net.au

David Purnell
February 2002

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