Connecting Country AGM and new committee members

Posted on 25 November, 2025 by Hadley Cole

On Saturday 22 November we held our AGM at the Guildford Community Hall. It was a lovely day to get together and celebrate our achievements for the year. Connecting Country members and supporters enjoyed brief AGM formalities that were followed by a presentation from Dr. Barry Golding and a wonderful afternoon tea provided by the Guildford Store.

AGM attendees at the Guildford Community Hall. Photo by Lou Citroen.

Dr. Barry Golding took the opportunity to reflect on his book Six Peaks Speak, published in 2023. Dr. Golding spoke of the great amount of evidence that is recorded in Central Victoria demonstrating Dja Dja Wurrung occupation of this Country for millenia, and the importance of protecting artefacts and culture that still exist in the landscape. The ‘Six Peaks’ refers to Mounts Kooroocheang/Gurutjanga, Beckworth/Nyaninuk, Greenock/unknown, Tarrengower/Dharrang Gauwa, Alexander/Liyanganuk, and Franklin/Lalkambuk. In his book Golding shares the knowledge and history each mountain holds within their geology and writes of the importance of recognising and understanding the unsettling colonial history in the region.

This years’ AGM saw a changing of the guards as the committee farewelled long term committee member and one of the early advocates for Connecting Country Marie Jones. Outgoing president Brendan Sydes thanked and congratulated Marie for hear many years (almost two decades) of dedication to our grass roots community organisation. He noted her thorough understanding of how small, community organisations work and her diligence in knowing what needs to get done, and getting in there and getting it done. Marie’s natural approach to working with community and bringing people into the fold has been a foundation to the success of Connecting Country from the early beginnings. “You should be very proud of what you have achieved here” Brendan shared.

Marie Jones receiving Thank You gifts from Director Lori Arthur. Photo by Lou Citreon

The entire Connecting Country community will miss Marie dearly. She has been a stalwart in the organisation since inception and has always made herself available to staff and volunteers alike.

We also saw the changing of committee roles with Brendan Sydes stepping down as president after 12 years and handing the reigns over to Stephen Oxley who has been sitting on the committee as a general member for the last 3 years. Cate Sinclair has stepped into the role of Secretary taking over from Marie after sitting on the committee as a general member for the previous 12 months. As it stands the new committee is;

President: Stephen Oxley

Vice President: Brendan Sydes

Secretary: Cate Sinclair

Treasurer: Max Kay

General members: Christine Brooke, Darren Tinker, Deirdre Slattery, Ben Welsh

We would would like to acknowledge new members Darren and Ben and returning member Deirdre and thank them for their willingness and commitment to Connecting Country. We look forward to achieving many more great outcomes for the environment together!

Connecting Country’s 2025 AGM was made possible due to the generous donation of community donors.