Greater Shepparton Response Launched

AT LAST FRIDAY’S GREATER SHEPPARTON RESPONSE LAUNCH AT MONASH PARK... From left, Goulburn Murray Community Leadership CEO, Michelle Luscombe, GROW Greater Shepparton program manager, Leanne Hulm, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project executive officer, Lisa McKenzie, Shepparton Show Me chair, Shane Sali, Tourism Greater Shepparton president, Ross Graham, Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, John Anderson, The Adviser managing director, Geoff Adams, Greater Shepparton Foundation CEO, Cheryl Hammer and Greater Shepparton City Council director sustainable development, Geraldine Christou. Photo: Steve Hutcheson.
AT LAST FRIDAY’S GREATER SHEPPARTON RESPONSE LAUNCH AT MONASH PARK… From left, Goulburn Murray Community Leadership CEO, Michelle Luscombe, GROW Greater Shepparton program manager, Leanne Hulm, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project executive officer, Lisa McKenzie, Shepparton Show Me chair, Shane Sali, Tourism Greater Shepparton president, Ross Graham, Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, John Anderson, The Adviser managing director, Geoff Adams, Greater Shepparton Foundation CEO, Cheryl Hammer and Greater Shepparton City Council director sustainable development, Geraldine Christou. Photo: Steve Hutcheson.

Collaboration between organisations is likely to be a major feature of how we go forward in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Greater Shepparton community and business leaders are coming together to actively support the community during and beyond the emergency.

Speaking at the launch of Greater Shepparton Response, Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Seema Abdullah said, “Getting through these uncertain times, it is important we work together to overcome COVID-19 challenges and prioritise the needs of our more vulnerable residents, while continuing to supporting the viability of local businesses.”

Under the banner of the Greater Shepparton Response (GSR) leaders and agencies are actively working to provide the support necessary to deal with an immediate crisis, while planning and working towards eventual recovery.

The Greater Shepparton Response comprises two components, the Community Response and a Business Response. Community leaders are coming together to ensure Greater Shepparton’s most vulnerable people are not forgotten as the pandemic unfolds.

Food security and creating a coordinated network of community support were top of the list when leaders met for the first time last week to coordinate their efforts.

Known as Greater Shepparton Community Response, the alliance draws together leaders from Goulburn Murray Community Leadership Programme, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, the Committee for Greater Shepparton, Greater Shepparton City Council, Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, Kaiela Institute, the Shepparton Foodshare, Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District and Greater Shepparton Foundation as well as expert advisers.

For the Business Response, the Greater Shepparton business community is banding together to assist each other through a very challenging operating environment created by the pandemic. Businesses are already collaborating on cross-deployment of staff, assistance with supply chains and sharing of information. Grow Greater Shepparton has developed a hub at www.greatersheppartonresponse.com.au to provide a platform for this information sharing.

The Committee for Greater Shepparton, Greater Shepparton City Council, Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shepparton Show Me and Tourism Greater Shepparton are all collaborating on initiatives to assist the businesses understand assistance available and strategies to get through this difficult period.

The Greater Shepparton Response website is live now businesses and agencies are encouraged to register www.greatersheppartonresponse.com.au