Run by Goulburn Murray Community Leadership, the Fairley Leadership Program provides participants with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills, explore the major issues affecting the region and assist positive change.
Each year, council partners with GMCL and provides a financial sponsorship to enable individuals from within the shire to participate in the program.
Moira Shire Council chair administrator Graeme Emonson said council received several high quality applications for the 2026 program and is proud to award the sponsorship to Lachlan Andrew.
“Lachlan is a graduate of the 2025 Moira Shire Community Leadership Program, and we are delighted he will continue developing his community leadership skills through the Fairley Leadership Program,” Dr Emonson said.
“Having people like Lachlan willing to put their hands up to help in our communities makes Moira Shire a stronger, more connected and inclusive place to live and work.”
Lachlan said he was encouraged to apply for Fairley while doing the Moira Community Leadership Program.
“I also had a few friends and co-workers who had done Fairley in previous years, and I’d heard amazing things about it so decided to apply and I was really happy to be accepted,” he said.
“I really, really enjoyed the Moira Community Leadership Program, and I felt that Fairley Leadership would deepen and strengthen that knowledge.
“Fairley Leadership is so much bigger and so much broader than CLP, so I can get so much more out of it.
“I hope it will help me refine what I’m doing and allow me to collaborate with others working in the community.”
The 28-year-old Numurkah native and former chef teaches food technology at Numurkah Secondary College.
He says he loves his job and is also excited to be involved in the Numurkah community.
“I want to know what is happening in the community and what we can do to get more people engaged,” he said.
Lachlan has been on the Numurkah Show Society Committee for the past two years.
He is the current Numurkah Show ambassador and is looking forward to competing in the regional Show Ambassador Final in Shepparton in March.
Lachlan said there was a lot of debate about the future of local agricultural shows.
“I hope that by being exposed to other community organisations and how they’re working it will help my own community work,” he said.
“All organisations are struggling to get volunteers, and I’m hoping to get ideas about how to get and keep the volunteers we need to keep things running.”
Lachlan encouraged other people to join the Moira Community Leadership Program.
“The program highlighted how community members can positively influence the future of our shire through collaboration and engagement with council,” he said.
“It was a rewarding experience that strengthened my connection to the community.”
Fairley Leadership is a six-month program that starts in March.
For more information, visit goulburnmurraycommunityleadership.com.au/fairley-leadership-program
Applications are open for the free 2026 Moira Shire Community Leadership Program via moira.smartygrants.com.au/CommunityLeadershipProgram2026
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