Helping rural communities connect and thrive

Omeo Community Hub

Fancy taking a yoga class run by a teacher based on the other side of the world? Hearing from an AFL star at a local footy club presentation night? Or in times of crisis, getting up to date information from emergency services. 

These are now some of the opportunities Omeo Community Hub is embracing – thanks to their new, 98-inch intelligent display screen.

“Now for metropolitan Melbourne people, that’s not a big screen. But for Omeo, it’s a very big screen. It’s the biggest one around,” laughs Ronda Manhire, Volunteer Hub Coordinator.

Community leaders in Omeo, in Victoria’s East Gippsland region, established a neighbourhood house-like ‘hub’ after the 2019/2020 bushfires. The Community Hub is used as a co-working space, a place for meetings and for community connectedness activities as well as an outreach site for the Regional University’s Study Hub.

While the hub was well equipped with computer access, getting specialist instructors to Omeo proved difficult and costly due to the tyranny of distance.

“We're in an area that's hit and miss when it comes to internet. Without satellite capacity, connecting from home can be difficult,” says Ronda.

Ronda and the Hub team decided they needed a large screen, but at $27,000, it was a costly item on their wish list.

That’s where ANZ’s Seeds of Renewal grant program - designed to help build vibrant and sustainable rural communities - helped.

“We certainly couldn’t have funded it ourselves, so when the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and ANZ agreed on the submission, that was fantastic.”

The screen is used by a vast cross-section of the local community. From regular church services and movie nights through to online training programs. 

It’s also crucial in times of crisis. 

When remote and regional communities face disasters – such as bushfires, floods or other threats; Information is key. The screen will help distribute early warnings, support the dissemination of emergency services’ information and help to reduce misinformation.

“In previous fire events, public meetings have been held in the hall. But now, if the roads are blocked, presentations from emergency services can be live streamed using the large screen,” says Ronda. “We’re very grateful for the support from the ANZ Seeds of Renewal Funding Program.”

Growing Abundance

In 2023, the Growing Abundance project in Castlemaine, Victoria was granted $15,000 for its local initiative to help farmers and backyard gardeners harvest and distribute excess produce to community and food relief organisations. 

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The funding allowed for year-long growing, harvesting, preserving, and sharing. The project has since evolved into an ongoing food security initiative under the Castlemaine Community House (CCH). 

Alicia Muling is Senior Writer at ANZ