EVM Growing at The Old Church on the Hill

“EVM Grow provides an opportunity for Victoria’s Environmental Volunteer Managers and Leaders (EVMs) to connect, learn from each other and share successes and opportunities. The event is designed to spark “a-ha” moments, initiate bold conversations and build a shared story for the future. You’ll walk away energised, connected and ready to create change.” - EVM Grow website

What is your volunteering story and what is the legacy you want to leave?

These were the opening thoughts presented at the 2025 EVM Grow forum hosted by the North Central CMA and City of Greater Bendigo, in Bendigo on November 11th. The small group of us that were cozied up in the beautiful Old Church on the Hill couches took a moment to reflect and discuss. Simply -

I was thrown into Landcare as many young people in rural communities are and was quickly elected to be the chair of a volunteer run organisation of whom I knew nothing about. “Isn’t Landcare just a farmers group?” I thought. From there, through becoming part of the Landcare Network and having new experiences I learned (from Ken) that “Landcare is a broad church, something for everyone, we just have to open the doors”. So the Wycheproof & District Landcare group began to transform with an Action Plan designed with new vision and new energy, and a new wave of younger membership naturally followed. Now, we’ve worked hard and we have a lot of fun, so we feel like we’re doing good things for the planet and the community, and we’re going to keep going into the future - that’s all my legacy needs to be.

This was the beginning of a day that led us through thought provoking talks and discussions about the future, the practice of volunteering, and how to lean into the strengths of community to build movement. We connected with each other over volunteer and volunteer management insights and glimmers of hope for the future, even against heavy odds. The sessions offered a charming opportunity to reconnect amongst new networks with familiar insights, such as:

• The future is now. It is a shift of attitudes, beliefs and paradigms. The future is hopeful.

• Story connects us. We need to be prepared to meet “the other” to find the common story that connects all of us. Connection is vital to human existence.

• We all need.

• Excitement breeds excitement.

  and simply …

• Food is the heart of everything.

Tech-issues aside, EVM Grow was streamed into the Bendigo venue to deliver conversations about how connection is the driving force of human action, which also strengthens the fabric of society and culture.

Testimony to this, the venue, The Old Church on the Hill, is a community hub run by volunteers and funded as a not-for-profit. It is a delightful ever-expanding space of energy; from the community garden to activities and markets, from cinema and band room to the volunteer run kitchen that served up community lunch to we participants of the day. We learned from Rose, the “curator of the space” about the journey to purchase the space and give it back to community as a NFP and volunteer run organisation. Everything is donated, from the couches to eggs and the time of the people running events and workshops, tackling admin and finances, and otherwise creating a significant third space for culture and connection in the Bendigo suburbs. Rose’s method is simple - work together and have fun; fun is good for the world.

In any role where passion is a driving factor it can be easy to get lost in data or marketable outcomes to feel like goals are being delivered. This is particularly true of the NRM sector, wherein the small wins for nature and community, and using nature as therapy against other stressors, can be lost in the knowing of environmental degradation levels across the district, state, country, world … It can be hard to look positively on the future against these insights.

EVM Grow was successful in reminding us that we’re not alone in these battles and that facing turbulent times together makes us stronger. These clusters of humans that come together in these forums, or as part of any volunteer community such as the Old Church, such as Landcare, exemplify good people doing good things, and it is through this connection and this story, that grassroots change nations.