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General News

7 September, 2023

Advance Avoca calls on new community leaders to take on decades-old organisation

Avoca residents with a passion for their town and community are being invited to get involved with Advance Avoca Inc — which like many volunteer groups may be in danger of folding — as existing committee members look to step away after years at...

By Maryborough Advertiser

Advance Avoca president Lyn Mathers and secretary Marg Pilgrim are encouraging residents to get involved with the group, with the current committee to step away next week. Photo: 080923 04
Advance Avoca president Lyn Mathers and secretary Marg Pilgrim are encouraging residents to get involved with the group, with the current committee to step away next week. Photo: 080923 04

Avoca residents with a passion for their town and community are being invited to get involved with Advance Avoca Inc — which like many volunteer groups may be in danger of folding — as existing committee members look to step away after years at the helm.

The group will hold its AGM next Monday with the positions of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and at least four positions on the committee to be made vacant.

It’s understood the organisation, which started as a chamber of commerce, has been running since around the 1950s in various iterations including a business and tourism group and most recently, Advance Avoca.

Advance Avoca secretary Marg Pilgrim said over the years the organisation has contributed to significant change and improvement in Avoca on many levels.

“Advance Avoca has always been a bit like a progress association, it was always something to help bring Avoca into the future,” she said.

“We’ve been involved in big projects that have improved the town’s infrastructure but also the smaller, nicer community-based projects where we’ve brought events in and had celebrations which have improved the town socially I think.”

Projects Advance Avoca have been involved in or led include lobbying for natural gas to be brought to the town, improving water supply, assisted with redeveloping the Avoca Railway Station precinct, secured funding to restore the cenotaph in Avoca’s main street, organised and ran the Avoca Riverside Market for years and hosted annual Christmas street parties, among many others.

Ms Pilgrim said Advance Avoca’s committee had agreed it was time to step back and is hopeful new residents will get involved, otherwise Avoca will lose its ability to effectively advocate for change and improvement.

“We’re happy to step away and new people to come in with new ideas, we’re happy with that, but if no one new comes in we’ll have to close it down,” she said.

“If Advance Avoca winds down and no longer exists then that’s fine and it’s something we can deal with, but what’s the point of getting rid of an organisation that’s connected to council and the State Government, is already incorporated and already has insurance?

“If it folds it will mean the town has no representation from a group like ours and I think that would make a difference to this community.”

Advance Avoca’s AGM wil be held at 7 pm next Monday, September 11 at the Avoca Golf Club, with all community members welcome to attend.

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